Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno urged the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provincial government to establish a disaster response task force to accelerate relief efforts following Saturday’s magnitude 7.7 earthquake.
He said a provincial task force is needed to strengthen coordination across areas affected by the 15-kilometer-deep tectonic earthquake off the northern coast of Flores Island.
“We call for the immediate formation of a regional task force, considering that evacuees are sheltering at multiple locations. Furthermore, we observe that the basic needs of evacuees must still be met,” Pratikno said in a statement on Tuesday.
He explained that the task force is expected to strengthen the provincial government’s ability to identify survivors’ specific needs, consolidate relief supplies from the central government, and facilitate aid distribution to hard-to-reach areas.
Pratikno underscored the initiative as a means of enabling the provincial government to play a more active role in disaster response while complementing relief operations carried out by central government agencies.
The minister cited the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Health, noting their efforts to provide evacuation tents, establish emergency public kitchens, and deploy medical personnel.
He assured the public that the central government would continue assisting local administrations with relief operations throughout the emergency response period to ensure optimal and equitable services for all communities affected by the earthquake.
The earthquake that struck NTT early Saturday had claimed at least 68 lives across Flores as of Monday afternoon (Aug. 17), according to the BNPB Directorate of Operations Control.
The disaster killed 26 people in Manggarai District, 24 in East Manggarai District, eight in Nagekeo District, four in Sikka District, two in Ende District, two in West Manggarai District, and two in Ngada District.
BNPB also confirmed that 213 people were injured.
Related news: Indonesia speeds NTT’s infrastructure recovery after M7.7 quake
Related news: BNPB launches Media Center for verified NTT quake updates
Translator: M. Riezko, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2026