BALINEWSID.COM, LABUAN BAJO — The death toll from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday (August 15, 2026) has risen to 53, according to the latest data released by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Sunday afternoon.

BNPB Deputy for Prevention Abdul Muhari said 135 people were injured and were receiving treatment at healthcare facilities.

“As of this afternoon, we have recorded a total of 53 fatalities,” Abdul Muhari said during a press conference on Sunday.

The BNPB also reported significant damage to residential buildings, with 154 houses heavily damaged, 49 moderately damaged, and 38 lightly damaged.

The agency emphasized that the figures remain dynamic as assessment and verification efforts continue in affected areas.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck NTT on Saturday (August 15), with its epicenter located in Nagekeo Regency, affecting several areas across Flores Island.

NTT Declares 14-Day Emergency Response

The East Nusa Tenggara provincial government has declared a 14-day emergency disaster response period for the earthquake, effective from August 15 to August 28, 2026.

The emergency status is intended to accelerate the mobilization of government resources, BNPB personnel, ministries and agencies, the military, police, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), local governments, and humanitarian organizations.

BNPB Chief Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, speaking during a coordination meeting with government ministries, agencies, and local authorities at the West Manggarai Regent’s Office on Sunday, issued eight strategic priorities to accelerate the emergency response across Flores.

Six regencies have been identified as being among the hardest-hit areas: Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ngada, Ende, Nagekeo, and Sikka.

The first priority is to ensure that the affected regions immediately establish official emergency disaster status. Suharyanto said legal certainty regarding the emergency status is essential to allow BNPB, the Ministry of Public Works, and other agencies to provide maximum financial and technical support.

“Please issue the emergency status today. This status is necessary so that BNPB and relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Public Works, can provide maximum assistance,” Suharyanto said.

The second priority is to accelerate the establishment of emergency command posts at the regency, municipal, and provincial levels. Military and police personnel are being encouraged to play a central role in field command to ensure that evacuation, refugee management, and logistics distribution are coordinated under a unified command structure.

BNPB has also established a National Assistance Command Post in Labuan Bajo and a Tactical Command Post in Maumere. The two locations are intended to accelerate emergency operations across western and eastern Flores.

“We have established the Provincial National Assistance Command Post here in Labuan Bajo. Because of the size of the affected area, we are also opening a post in Maumere to serve Sikka, Nagekeo, and Ngada,” Suharyanto said.

To strengthen the supply of humanitarian assistance from outside the region, BNPB has established a National Logistics Command Post at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta.

The facility will receive assistance from government ministries and agencies, state-owned enterprises, private companies, and the public before the supplies are transported by air to affected areas in Flores.

Suharyanto also instructed Basarnas to lead search-and-rescue operations in cooperation with the military, police, and volunteers.

The SAR operation will continue until authorities are certain that no victims remain trapped or missing in affected locations.

“We ask the head of Basarnas, in accordance with the law, to directly lead the search-and-rescue operation. Military, police, and volunteers should join under the leadership of the head of Basarnas,” he said.

BNPB is also targeting the limited restoration of essential services, including electricity, clean water, fuel, and communications, within seven days.

Authorities have been instructed to conduct damage assessments on residents’ homes in parallel with emergency response operations rather than waiting until the emergency period ends.

The rapid assessment is intended to allow the government to begin planning temporary shelters or house repairs as soon as verified damage data becomes available.

To reach areas that are difficult to access by land, the government is deploying military and disaster-response air and sea assets.

The Indonesian military is deploying four helicopters and naval vessels, while Basarnas is providing ships and aircraft. BNPB is also deploying two wide-body aircraft and one helicopter.

The assets will be primarily used to transport and distribute essential supplies, including food, blankets, and emergency tents, to isolated communities.

“These assets are being focused on logistics distribution,” Suharyanto said.

BNPB has also begun operating an official Media Center to provide verified information on the earthquake response.

Daily press briefings are scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA) to provide updates on casualties, damage, evacuations, and aid distribution.

The initiative is also intended to reduce confusion and prevent the spread of unverified information amid the ongoing emergency.

With the death toll reaching 53 and hundreds of people injured or affected by damaged homes, authorities are accelerating emergency operations across Flores.

The immediate priorities are search and rescue, evacuation, medical treatment, assistance for displaced residents, restoration of essential services, and the distribution of humanitarian supplies to isolated areas.