Infrastructure in NTT gradually recovers after quake: BNPB

hartono · Aug 18, 2026

Infrastructure in NTT gradually recovers after quake: BNPB

rsud-maumere-rawat-pasien-di-tenda-akibat-gempa-2844311.jpg

Patients received treatment in emergency tents of TC Hillers Regional Hospital in Maumere, Sikka District, East Nusa Tenggara Timur, on Monday (August 17, 2026). (ANTARA FOTO/Mega Tokan/app/foc)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that infrastructure affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province is gradually recovering.

Acting Head of Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center at the BNPB, Berton S.P. Panjaitan, explained the electrical grid in West Flores and East Flores, sourced from the 11 affected transformers, has been fully restored.

"Of the 566,797 (electricity) customers affected by the earthquake, 99.5 percent of them have been restored, with the remaining 2,732 customers requiring attention. We hope it can be handled in the coming days," Panjaitan said here in Jakarta on Monday.

Furthermore, he outlined the telecommunications network managed by PT Telkom in Flores Island has reached 95.4 percent recovery, with the remaining work focused in East Manggarai at 76.3 percent.

In addition, road access in East Nusa Tenggara is generally now passable, albeit on a limited basis.

In a search and rescue (SAR) sector, Berton explained a joint team from National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and related ministries and agencies remains on standby in seven affected districts.

"Even there have been no reports, Basarnas Joint Team is continuing search efforts and deploying personnel optimally in the affected areas," Berton noted.

Regarding the health sector, he said Health Ministry has responded quickly by sending two field hospitals to Ruteng in Manggarai District and Nagekeo District.

The Ministry of Health also sent two health crisis management teams to oversee the coordination, stationed in Sikka and Ende Districts, respectively.

The two emergency medical teams were also deployed, with the first focused on Ende, Nagekeo, and West Manggarai, while the second one focused on Sikka District.

To expedite evacuation and logistics distribution in difficult terrain, the government deployed 1,467 joint personnel from the Indonesian military, the National Police, and other agencies to work optimally in the field.

The efforts were supported by 10 defense equipment units, five of which were on standby in Labuan Bajo and five in Maumere.

Separately, the Indonesian government reaffirmed its commitment to expediting emergency response and recovery.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno said the presence of ministers and government agency heads in East Nusa Tenggara since the first day of the disaster reflected the government's concern and commitment to assisting affected communities.

"Since the first day of the disaster, we have been in NTT to assess the situation on the ground and discuss efforts to accelerate the recovery," Pratikno remarked.