84-year-old grandmother survives 4 days trapped under earthquake rubble in NTT

An 84-year-old grandmother has been miraculously rescued after surviving for four days trapped beneath the rubble of her home following a powerful earthquake in Indonesia's Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) province. Paulina Pobi, a resident of Desa Nitunglea on Palue Island, was found by villagers.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Nusa Tenggara Timur on Saturday, August 15. Pobi was successfully evacuated on Tuesday, August 18, by residents of her village. Sikka Police Chief AKBP Bambang Supeno confirmed the rescue, stating, "She was evacuated yesterday afternoon and has been taken to the nearest health center. The victim survived." He assured that Pobi is safe and receiving care at the health center.

Desa Nitunglea had become isolated after the earthquake caused landslides, blocking roads with large rocks and fallen trees. This isolation meant the village could only be reached on foot, a journey of three hours from the nearest pier. The challenging terrain and lack of access complicated initial rescue efforts.

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She was evacuated yesterday afternoon and has been taken to the nearest health center. The victim survived.

In addition to the physical challenges, the regional police chief, Irjen Pol. Rudi Darmoko, stressed the importance of psychological support for the displaced population. "These refugees are not only physically injured, but their mental health is also something we cannot ignore, especially for the children," he said. He emphasized that attention must be paid to the mental well-being of survivors.

CNN Indonesia.com observed that on Wednesday, August 19, the Gelora Samador Field, which is housing 1,207 refugees, was visited by the NTT Police Chief and the Head of Bhayangkari NTT, Vily Darmoko. They provided trauma healing sessions for the refugees, aiming to address the psychological impact of the disaster.

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These refugees are not only physically injured, but their mental health is also something we cannot ignore, especially for the children. He emphasized that attention must be paid to the mental well-being of survivors.