BNPB says basic needs met for Poso earthquake victims

hartono · Aug 21, 2025

A BNPB team, accompanied by Poso District Head Verna G.M. Inkiriwang, visited displaced residents at a temporary shelter in Poso District, Central Sulawesi. (ANTARA/HO-Kominfo Poso)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said the basic needs of residents affected by Sunday's earthquake in Poso District, Central Sulawesi, have been met through logistical support from both national and local governments.

Andria Yusferryzal, BNPB's director of Emergency Infrastructure Support, said the first batch of aid arrived on Sunday, August 17, with a second shipment expected Wednesday, August 20.

"All basic needs have been fulfilled. No one has reported a shortage of supplies," he said during a BNPB Disaster Watch broadcast on Wednesday.

Distributed aid includes tents, evacuation tools, ready-to-eat meals, staple food items, and operational vehicles.

The agency also set up two emergency tents at Poso Regional Hospital, each with a capacity of 20 people, and established public kitchens in several areas to support food distribution.

"We are ensuring health services, temporary shelters, and public kitchens remain operational," Yusferryzal said.

An emergency response period has been declared from August 18 to 31 to accelerate relief and recovery efforts.

Most residents have opted to stay near their homes, setting up tents rather than relocating to centralized shelters.

"They sleep in tents at night and resume normal activities during the day," he added.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Poso at 5:36 a.m. local time on Sunday, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

According to the Central Sulawesi disaster agency, the quake affected 433 people, including 31 older adults, 23 young children, and five people with disabilities.

Tengkura Village suffered the most severe damage, with 49 homes heavily damaged and 34 sustaining minor damage.