BNPB delivers aid after magnitude 7.7 quake in Kuwus, West Manggarai

Labuan Bajo — The National Disaster Management Agency, or BNPB, distributed aid to residents affected by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Kuwus, West Manggarai, and carried out damage assessments in Coal and Pangga villages, according to state broadcaster RRI and local outlet IDNVoice.

The field team visited Coal Hamlet in Coal Village and Dahang Hamlet in Pangga Village, where BNPB deputy for prevention Abdul Muhari said the agency was checking affected sites and evacuation points so assistance could be delivered more precisely. The reports said the operation also included logistics support for residents who had not yet received aid after the quake.

BNPB’s latest assessment cited by the two outlets found 148 homes damaged in the two villages, including 101 severely damaged, 12 moderately damaged and 35 lightly damaged. The same reports said one resident died in the area covered by the assessment.

Evacuations and logistics

In Coal Village, 1,108 residents were staying in evacuation sites, while more than 20 families in Pangga Village had evacuated on their own, according to the reports. BNPB and local disaster managers were prioritizing food and non-food supplies for people still in temporary shelters.

The agency also said it was paying attention to vulnerable groups, including children, women and older people, as some residents remained near damaged homes in tents while others left because they feared aftershocks. The reports said psychological stress after the earthquake was also affecting whether people stayed in evacuation sites.

Abdul Muhari said access from Labuan Bajo to Kuwus takes about 3.5 hours and the road is difficult, making the inland response more challenging, according to RRI. The response is part of wider logistics distribution across earthquake-hit parts of Flores, with support posts operating in Labuan Bajo and Maumere.

Key figures:

• 148 homes damaged in Coal and Pangga villages.
• 101 homes severely damaged, 12 moderately damaged and 35 lightly damaged.
• 1,108 evacuees in Coal Village.
• More than 20 families self-evacuated in Pangga Village.
• One death reported in the assessed area.

The earthquake response in West Manggarai continued alongside broader aid deliveries elsewhere in East Nusa Tenggara, with BNPB reporting that logistics posts in Labuan Bajo were being used to speed distribution to affected communities. Both reports said further assessment was continuing.

Context

The quake was part of a wider seismic emergency in East Nusa Tenggara that triggered evacuation and relief operations across several regencies. In Kuwus, BNPB’s field assessment focused on confirming damage, identifying evacuation locations and ensuring residents outside formal shelters were included in the response.

Sources

• RRI
• IDNVoice