Indonesia Deploys Rescue Teams, Aid After 7.7-Magnitude NTT Earthquake

Indonesia is mobilizing a comprehensive response following a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region on Saturday morning, August 15, 2026. The government convened an immediate coordination meeting to direct swift and parallel actions aimed at recovery and aid delivery.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, who led the virtual meeting, stressed the urgency of rescue operations, healthcare services, and the rapid restoration of essential infrastructure, including hospitals. He instructed the NTT governor to identify specific emergency needs to facilitate well-planned and rapid deployment of resources, including the establishment of field hospitals.

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Rescue efforts, healthcare services, and the restoration of basic infrastructure, such as hospitals, must be prioritized.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is central to the response, with its head, Suharyanto, urging local leaders to declare an emergency response status and activate command posts. The BNPB has already dispatched emergency supplies from its logistics warehouse in East Flores. The earthquake has garnered the attention of President Prabowo Subianto, who assured that central government assistance would be channeled through the BNPB.

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He also asked the NTT governor to identify emergency response needs to allow for well-planned, rapid action, including establishing field hospitals.

Various ministries and agencies are actively involved. The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed specialized teams from multiple regions to aid in victim recovery. The Ministry of Public Works is working to clear roads blocked by landslides, while the Ministry of Social Affairs is distributing supplies and deploying volunteers for psychosocial support and public kitchens in hard-hit areas like Nagekeo and Sikka.

The Ministry of Health is activating emergency operation centers, and a crisis center team will deploy alongside BNPB personnel. Transportation infrastructure has also been affected, with damage to airport terminals and ports, though runways remain operational. Helicopters and aircraft are being prepared for deployment. Military and police personnel, along with their transport assets, have also been dispatched to the affected regions.

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BNPB Head Suharyanto asked local leaders to immediately announce a disaster emergency response status, followed by the activation of command posts.