August 15, 2026 | 11:43 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor Melki Laka Lena said that, based on the latest reports received, five people were confirmed dead following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Mbay, Nagekeo Regency. "Based on the information I have received, the death toll has reached five," he said in Kupang on Saturday, August 15.
The NTT Governor made the statement during a press conference with relevant agencies, including the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Search and Rescue Agency (SAR), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) regarding emergency response operations in Flores.
He noted that two victims died in Maumere, Sikka Regency, while three others died in Manggarai Regency. He added that the fatalities were suspected to have been caused by falling building debris when the earthquake struck the area. "However, we will further confirm the cause," he said.
Melki added that detailed data regarding casualties, including fatalities and injuries, would be provided after his visit to Flores. "We will depart for Flores this afternoon and will provide an update this evening, including casualties and damage," he added.
Regarding physical damage, he noted that several roads across Flores were cut off and landslides occurred following the earthquake.
Northern Flores Most Affected by the Earthquake
The Governor stated that the northern part of Flores sustained the most severe impact from the powerful earthquake.
"The earthquake in Mbay had the greatest impact on the northern part of Flores, including Maumere, Ngada, Manggarai, and its epicenter in Nagekeo," he said.
He delivered the statement during a joint press conference with line agencies and members of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) at the NTT Regional Police Headquarters.
He said the local governments on Flores Island are still collecting accurate data on damage and casualties caused by the earthquake. Since Saturday morning, he has been in touch with several regional heads across Flores to assess damage in their respective jurisdictions.
"I have contacted regents across Flores regarding the current situation. They will immediately inspect conditions in their regions to provide damage data to the provincial government," he added.
Melki stated that the disaster in Flores has drawn President Prabowo's attention, with several ministers instructed to directly visit the affected areas. The NTT provincial government has also been directed to rapidly verify data so that emergency relief can be distributed promptly to the disaster zone.
He emphasized that the provincial government's immediate priority remains evacuating earthquake victims to safety. "I have asked supermarkets in the disaster area to distribute food to victims, and the government will compensate them while we await official aid distribution," he added.
He further noted that he would fly to Flores on Saturday afternoon aboard a National Police aircraft to directly inspect disaster locations in Maumere and several other sites.
Read: Palace Assures Swift Response to Flores Earthquake
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