Fatal clash after Wae Ri’i Communion party and Detubinga road drive lead Flores news

Wae Ri’i — A thanksgiving celebration after a Catholic First Communion ceremony in Wae Ri’i, Manggarai, ended in a violent clash between two groups of residents, leaving a 19-year-old man dead, four motorbikes burned and a house damaged, according to district authorities and local media reports.

Police in Manggarai say the fighting broke out on Friday night, 18 September 2026, on the main road in front of a party tent in Wohe hamlet, Bangka Jong village, Wae Ri’i subdistrict.

The clash involved residents from Timung hamlet in Golo Cador village and Wohe hamlet in Bangka Jong, with several participants suspected of being under the influence of alcohol consumed at the party, according to the Manggarai police public relations unit.

The victim, identified as Benediktus Paang, a 19-year-old resident of Timung, returned home after the incident and later complained of head and stomach pain to his family, police said.

Family members took him to Timung community health centre the following morning, but medical staff declared he had died before arriving at the facility.

Local outlets report that four motorcycles were set on fire during the unrest and that the house of a Wohe resident alleged to be involved in the clash was damaged.

The body of the victim was later returned to his home village for burial, while Manggarai police said they were still investigating those believed to have taken part in the fighting and the sequence of events that led to the death.

The deputy regent of Manggarai, Fabianus Abu, publicly regretted the incident and urged residents to avoid holding parties and gatherings during the emergency period following the recent Flores earthquake.

He said the local administration had issued a ban on community parties from 15 to 28 September 2026, and called on residents to prioritise safety and solidarity in the disaster response.

Civic action in Detubinga, Sikka

Detubinga, Sikka, Flores — In Sikka district, residents of Detubinga village in Tanawawo subdistrict have launched a self-funded drive to repair severely damaged local roads, highlighting frustration with long-delayed public works.

According to a report from a Kupang-based news outlet, Detubinga residents have been patching potholes and eroded sections of the Bistio–Nuaria road using cement, sand and water, while also pooling cash contributions.

The article said the community has already raised close to hundreds of millions of rupiah through donations from Detubinga residents living outside the village, voluntary contributions from village officials, and in-kind support such as building materials, food and labour.

Residents quoted in earlier coverage of the same area complained that the village roads had suffered heavy damage and that members of the local legislative council had never held a recess visit there, fuelling perceptions of neglect.

The grassroots road works in Detubinga have drawn attention as an example of villagers stepping in to improve basic infrastructure while awaiting formal government funding and projects.

Sources

• Congkasae.com
• TribunFlores
• VIVA NTT
• floresa.co