We will continue to oversee this recovery …
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, said 86 percent of base transceiver stations (BTS) sets affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province has been restored.
“Since the earthquake struck, the Ministry and telecommunication operators have continually monitored network recovery in the affected areas. We will continue to oversee this recovery process until all services return to normal, particularly in areas still experiencing disruptions,” Hafid said in an official statement released in Jakarta on Sunday (August 16).
According to the Ministry’s data, as of 6 p.m. Western Indonesian Time on Sunday, she mentioned 794 BTS sets across 11 districts and cities were impacted by the earthquake.
Of the total, about 683 sets (86.02 percent) have been restored, while 111 sets (13.98 percent) are still undergoing repairs. The Ministry is currently expediting repairs, especially in regions with a high number or percentage of damaged sets.
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Based on the telecommunications industry’s assessment, the disruptions occurred from the outset of the disaster were predominantly due to power failures at 701 sets, while 93 sets experienced disruptions to the transmission network.
“The role of a communication network during a disaster is not merely about connectivity, but also it is essential for ensuring people to stay connected, receive information, access emergency services, and coordinate aid. Therefore, the network recovery is a critical part of post-disaster mitigation,” she noted.
She also urged the public to prioritise their safety and rely on official information from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), local governments, and disaster mitigation agencies.
Related news: Aceh BTS device recovery reaches 80.63 percent: Ministry
Meanwhile, in the districts of Alor, Lembata, and North Central Timor, the telecommunication services have been restored.
However, BTS sets in eight districts remain in the recovery phase, including East Manggarai (32 sets remaining offline), Manggarai (27 sets), Nagekeo (19 sets), and Ende (11 sites).
Additionally, repairs are ongoing for 10 sets in Ngada, seven sets in Sikka, four sets in West Manggarai, and one set in East Flores.
According to National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) data, as of Monday evening, the earthquake has claimed 68 lives, injured 213 people, and displaced approximately 9,000 residents.
“We express our deepest condolences over the disaster in East Nusa Tenggara,” Hafid said.
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Translator: Ahmad Fauzan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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