East Manggarai earthquake leaves 30,098 displaced as authorities accelerate aid

More than 30,000 people were displaced after an earthquake in East Manggarai, Indonesia, with 30,098 residents recorded in evacuation centers as of Friday, Sept. 3, at noon local time. Authorities also reported damage to 31,933 buildings and public facilities.

The largest concentrations of evacuees were in Sambi Rampas, with 12,635 people, and North Lamba Leda, with 11,582. Together, the two districts accounted for more than 80 percent of the total. Many residents in both areas set up self-managed evacuation posts.

The disaster killed 40 people and injured 643. Of the injured, 239 suffered serious injuries and 404 had minor injuries. Authorities also recorded 459 pregnant women across the evacuation sites, including 124 in Sambi Rampas and 51 in Borong.

The damaged infrastructure includes homes, schools, community health centers, bridges, irrigation systems, clean-water networks and sanitation facilities. North Lamba Leda and South Lamba Leda suffered the heaviest damage. Dozens of roads and bridges linking districts were cut off, complicating the distribution of relief supplies.

Jeany Wajong, head of the East Manggarai regional leadership communications and protocol section, said the local government was working with the military, police, search-and-rescue teams and volunteers to reach all affected areas. “These figures are not merely data. They are our residents who have lost their homes, families and shelter. Our main focus now is to ensure emergency tents, food, medical services and the restoration of transport routes quickly reach every evacuation site,” she told CNN Indonesia. She acknowledged difficult access and the scale of the burden, while pledging to speed up aid distribution and update the figures transparently.

“

These figures are not merely data. They are our residents who have lost their homes, families and shelter. Our main focus now is to ensure emergency tents, food, medical services and the restoration of transport routes quickly reach every evacuation site.