NTT Earthquake, BNPB Activates Post and Focus on Evacuation of Victims Trapped

BNPB officers check houses, buildings affected by the NTT earthquake. (IST)

JAKARTA - The government will immediately activate the disaster management post and prioritize the evacuation of residents who are still trapped in collapsed buildings after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 SR shook East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Saturday (15/8/2026).

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto said these two steps were the government's priority in handling the initial impact of the NTT earthquake.

The decision was made in a coordination meeting to handle the earthquake led by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) on Saturday.

"In the coordination meeting, we have agreed to immediately activate the disaster management post, so all things related to disaster management will be activated," said Suharyanto.

NTT Earthquake Victim Evacuation Joint Team

In addition to activating the disaster post, the government prioritizes the search and rescue of residents who are still trapped in a number of buildings due to the earthquake.

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto. (IST)

The joint team consisting of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), TNI, and Polri will immediately conduct a search and evacuation of the victims.

"There are several people who are suspected of still needing help, some are trapped in several buildings. This is the initial target of the disaster management team," said Suharyanto.

After the search and evacuation process is carried out, the government will focus on restoring transportation and communication routes affected by the earthquake.

PU Ministry Deploys Heavy Equipment

To restore transportation access, the Ministry of Public Works will deploy personnel and heavy equipment to the affected areas.

The heavy equipment will be used to reopen disrupted transportation routes, including sections of roads covered by landslide material due to the earthquake shock.

Meanwhile, for the communication network, the government is still monitoring. Until now, there have been no reports of disruptions in mobile phone signals in the affected areas.

However, the government has prepared a satellite-based internet backup communication facility if needed to support disaster management.

"For communication lines, until now we have not received reports whether the signal of the HP, then the phone, is disrupted. But of course we are also preparing backup communication tools," explained Suharyanto.

38 People Died due to NTT Earthquake

The government continues to handle the impact of the earthquake centered around Nagekeo Regency, NTT.

Until 15.00 WIB, Suharyanto said the earthquake had caused 38 people to die. In addition, two people were reported to have been seriously injured and 11 people were lightly injured.

As many as 2,000 residents were also reported to have evacuated independently due to the earthquake that shook the NTT region.

The government together with the joint team is still carrying out search, assistance, data collection, and handling of affected people in a number of areas.