Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 75 as Vice President Prioritizes Basic Needs
The death toll from the Indonesia earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara has risen to 75 with 907 people injured. [2] Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has prioritized basic needs during relief efforts and urged direct field oversight. [2]
Rising Casualties from the Indonesia Earthquake
The death toll from the major earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara has risen to 75 as of Thursday afternoon. [2] In addition to the fatalities, the number of injured victims increased to 907, up by nine from the previous count of 898. [2] All nine newly recorded injuries were reported in Ngada District. [2] These figures establish the scale of the disaster in the region affected by the magnitude-7.7 event. [2] The National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure reported the updated casualty numbers on Thursday. [2] The increase in injuries highlights the ongoing impact on residents in districts such as Ngada. [2]
Vice President Gibran Prioritizes Urgent Needs in NTT
Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has called for basic needs for earthquake-affected residents in East Nusa Tenggara Province to be prioritized. [2] He emphasized the necessity of a rapid, integrated, and comprehensive post-disaster response. [2] "In emergency management, the safety of our citizens and the fulfillment of urgent needs must be the top priorities. No resident should be left without assistance, including those residing in hard-to-reach areas, such as mountainous settlements," Gibran said on Thursday. [2] While inspecting damaged infrastructure in the province's Sikka district, he urged all relevant officials to visit the disaster zones to ensure that relief efforts are executed effectively and any obstacles are swiftly addressed. [2] "I urge all regional heads and local leadership forum (Forkopimda) members to go directly to the field, ensuring every instruction is fully implemented without bureaucratic barriers," Gibran said. [2] He added that every obstacle must be identified and resolved immediately, with clear accountability and specific deadlines. [2] Gibran said he will report all the findings and challenges directly to the President. [2] Amid the ongoing recovery and response operations, Gibran also expressed his appreciation to all personnel and volunteers who have been assisting local communities since the disaster first struck. [2] He noted that a unified response and collaborative work among all agencies on the ground are vital to ensuring that affected communities receive the necessary aid and continuous support. [2] "I extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to all personnel who have been on the ground helping the community since day one of the disaster," he said. [2]
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka prioritizes basic needs for East Nusa Tenggara earthquake victims. — Source: antaranews
Government Mobilizes Support and Donations
Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara said the government is preparing several programs to support communities affected by the magnitude-7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara. [1] The ministry had also collected around Rp100 million in donations as an initial contribution to help communities affected by the disaster. [1] "Employees contributed around Rp100 million as an initial initiative. After that, we are also designing programs that can be redirected. We will give priority to several matters to help our brothers and sisters in NTT," he said in an official statement received on Thursday. [1] According to Suryanagara, the concern for communities affected by the earthquake reflects collaboration between the Ministry of Transmigration and the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions. [1] Beyond disaster response, he said stronger coordination between the two ministries was needed to ensure the sustainability of development in villages and transmigration areas. [1] The transmigration program has established 1,567 new villages through the development of transmigration areas. [1] Once established, these villages require continued support from local governments and the ministry responsible for village development. [1] Suryanagara explained that cross-ministerial collaboration is necessary to ensure that development is not disrupted by administrative boundaries once a program or area has grown. [1] Programs that have already been established must continue to deliver benefits and develop into sources of economic and social strength for local communities. [1] He said the momentum of Independence Day commemorations should be filled with concrete action rather than ceremonies alone, including efforts to strengthen public services. [1] "The most important thing in the end is the benefit for the community," the minister said. [1]
Ongoing Seismic Activity Near Ruteng
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred 48 km NNE of Ruteng at a depth of 10.0 km. [4] A magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 86 km NNE of Ruteng at a depth of 10.0 km. [3] A magnitude 5.8 earthquake was recorded at 25 km north-northeast of Ruteng at a shallow depth of 10 km. [5] The region has recorded 4,748 earthquakes in the last 30 days, the largest being the magnitude 7.7 event. [5] Aftershocks continue in the Flores region with all recent events at shallow depths. [3] [4] [5] The low depth of the tremors increases the area potentially affected. [5]
Broader Recovery and Collaboration Efforts
The Transmigration Ministry is preparing programs to aid NTT quake victims in coordination with the Ministry of Villages. [1] Related efforts include housing aid for survivors and infrastructure recovery after the magnitude-7.7 quake. [1] [2] Health support measures such as sending orthopedic doctors have also been referenced in connection with the response. [2] Sustained development beyond immediate disaster response requires ongoing cross-ministerial coordination to maintain benefits for local communities. [1] Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka stressed the need for field oversight to address obstacles with accountability during the recovery phase. [2]
What to watch next: Aftershocks including the M5.8 event near Ruteng continue while ministries prepare additional programs and donations for victims.
