BNPB Maps Flores Earthquake Damage From Labuan Bajo to Nagekeo

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has used helicopter surveys along the northern coast of Flores to map damage from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake, assess tsunami impacts and identify logistics routes from Labuan Bajo to Nagekeo, according to the agency and Indonesian media reports.

BNPB’s Deputy for Prevention Abdul Muhari said the aerial monitoring was intended to provide a comprehensive view of affected coastal and inland areas, validate local reports of tsunami inundation and guide the delivery of emergency supplies to communities with difficult road access, according to a BNPB statement and subsequent coverage by several outlets.

The survey flights traced the shoreline from Labuan Bajo in West Manggarai east through Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ngada and Nagekeo. According to BNPB and national media, the helicopter operated at low altitude, roughly 25–30 metres above the ground, to allow visual documentation of damage and potential drop zones for aid.

Tsunami impact seen as minor, with two main inundation points

BNPB’s visual assessment from the air concluded that the tsunami triggered by the Flores earthquake had an overall minor impact and did not broadly inundate residential areas, according to the agency’s briefing and multiple news reports.

The monitoring identified tsunami inundation in two locations: the Riung area and the boundary zone between Riung and Nagekeo. Those coastal stretches are generally used for aquaculture ponds, and BNPB said the resulting impact on nearby settlements was not considered significant.

From the helicopter, BNPB teams also documented structural damage and checked the condition of hillslope settlements and coastal roads. The flights were used to cross-check earlier reports from local governments and residents on tsunami flooding and earthquake damage.

Key points from the BNPB and media reports include:

• Earthquake magnitude: 7.7
• Survey corridor: Labuan Bajo to Nagekeo along the northern coast of Flores
• Reported tsunami inundation points: two, in the Riung area and at the Riung–Nagekeo boundary
• Helicopter survey altitude: about 25–30 metres above ground level

Helicopter drops planned for isolated hill communities

BNPB stated that some settlements on hilltops and rugged slopes could not be reached quickly by trucks or other ground vehicles carrying relief supplies. For those locations, deliveries by air are being prepared as a primary alternative, using the aerial mapping to identify suitable dropping zones.

The agency said the survey results are expected to support logistics planning by highlighting where road access is inadequate and where food, shelter materials and other emergency items may need to be dropped by helicopter. Findings from the flights are being complemented by ground surveys to refine the damage map and speed up assistance to hard-to-reach affected areas.

For communities and tourism operators in and around Labuan Bajo, BNPB and media accounts confirm that the helicopter route began in the town and followed the northern coastline eastward. The reports focus on regional impacts and logistics planning, and do not provide a detailed breakdown of specific damage or disruptions to individual roads, ferry links, airport facilities or access routes into Komodo National Park.

Sources

• BNPB official release: "BNPB Lakukan Survei Udara Petakan Lanskap Wilayah Terdampak Gempa M7.7 NTT"
• VOI English report: "BNPB Maps NTT Earthquake Images from the Air, These 2 Points Are Considered the Most Affected"
• Harian Jogja report: "BNPB Petakan Dampak Gempa NTT dari Udara, Tsunami Dinilai Minor"
• Media Indonesia report: "BNPB Petakan Dampak Gempa M7,7 NTT dari Udara, Siapkan Dropping Logistik"