Indonesia distributes $250,000 in aid after deadly NTT earthquake

Indonesia is mobilizing significant resources to aid communities devastated by a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The Ministry of Social Affairs is leading the charge, deploying personnel and delivering over Rp4.5 billion (more than US$250,000) in essential relief supplies.

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf confirmed that his ministry is collaborating with various central and regional institutions to manage evacuations and distribute much-needed logistics. The aid package is extensive, comprising 6,000 ready-to-eat meal packages, 1,624 children's food portions, 600 family kits, 1,700 roll-up tents, 780 mattresses, and numerous other items including toiletries and kitchen equipment.

Personnel from various units, including Tagana disaster-response volunteers, have been mobilized to assist with impact assessments, evacuations, and identifying immediate needs. "Our teams will continue to assist residents. We will support evacuation and provide victims with temporary shelters while meeting their basic needs," Yusuf stated. Evacuees are currently gathered in several districts, including Mbay, Maumere, Borong, and Ruteng.

The tectonic quake, which had a depth of 15km and was centered in Nagekeo, caused tremors felt across Flores Island and neighboring areas. As of Saturday night, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported a tragic death toll of 47, with fatalities confirmed in multiple regencies. The disaster has also caused widespread damage, with BNPB mobilizing an additional 275 tons of supplies after reporting that 346 homes and 116 public facilities were damaged.

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Our teams will continue to assist residents. We will support evacuation and provide victims with temporary shelters while meeting their basic needs.