Indonesian Navy sends 217 marines to support NTT quake response

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Marine Corps deployed 217 personnel to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to aid communities affected by last Saturday’s magnitude 7.7 earthquake and accelerate recovery efforts.

The personnel are members of the 2nd Marine Force Disaster Mitigation Task Force based in Surabaya, East Java.

Head of the Marine Corps Information Office Colonel Rana Karyana stated in Jakarta on Friday that the task force set sail aboard the navy hospital ship KRI Dr. Soeharso from Surabaya on Wednesday (August 19), with arrival in NTT expected today.

He pointed out that the relief contingent consists of medics, combat engineers, and supporting personnel.

“The deployment of marine construction engineers is intended to help handle and restore affected facilities and infrastructure. Meanwhile, personnel specializing in healthcare are tasked with providing medical services to communities,” Karyana explained.

In addition to fielding qualified personnel, he continued, the Marine Corps has mobilized a range of tools and equipment to ensure optimal relief operations in NTT.

“We are sending one bulldozer and one excavator, alongside dump trucks, transport trucks, ambulances, operational vehicles, equipment for public kitchens and field medical treatment, construction tool kits, field beds, tents, and other supporting pieces of equipment,” he elaborated.

Karyana affirmed that the marines would remain in NTT until conditions return to normal following emergency and recovery measures.

TNI AL has been actively supporting the government’s disaster response following the tectonic earthquake, which had claimed 75 lives as of Thursday (August 20).

Since the first day of the response, the navy has deployed strategic assets, including five vessels, two helicopters, and hundreds of personnel.

Besides KRI Dr. Soeharso, the force has mobilized KRI Hiu, KRI Bung Hatta, KRI Teluk Celukan Bawang, and KRI Teluk Parigi.

The navy on Thursday also handed over 34 tons of relief supplies to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in Jakarta for distribution to quake-hit communities in NTT.