Flores Quake Forces Evacuation of Ruteng Prisoners to Bajawa and Ende
Damage from the 15 August 2026 magnitude 7.7 Flores earthquake forced authorities to evacuate 132 of 171 prisoners from Ruteng Class IIB Detention Centre to Bajawa and Ende, while engineers assess and repair the severely damaged facility.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 3 min read
Labuan Bajo — — Authorities have confirmed that damage from the 15 August 2026 earthquake on Flores forced the evacuation of most prisoners from Ruteng Class IIB Detention Centre, with 132 of 171 inmates moved to facilities in Bajawa and Ende in early September, according to government and media reports.
The quake, measured at magnitude 7.7 by Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), struck northeast of Mbay on 15 August 2026 and caused serious structural damage at Ruteng prison, including collapsed and cracked perimeter walls and damage to many inmate housing blocks. Officials from the Directorate General of Corrections in East Nusa Tenggara initially drew up plans to relocate all 171 prisoners to Bajawa, subject to road access and safety checks at the receiving facility.
Damage and immediate safety measures
The regional corrections office reported that more than 50 percent of Ruteng’s buildings were damaged, making it the most severely affected of four monitored correctional facilities on Flores — Ruteng, Bajawa, Maumere and Ende. Sections of the perimeter wall and interior partitions cracked or collapsed, including walls near the elderly prisoners’ block and the vocational guidance area.
According to the East Nusa Tenggara regional office of the Directorate General of Corrections, all 171 prisoners and staff at Ruteng survived the initial quake, with some inmates suffering minor injuries from falling debris. Early assessments described the other three facilities — Bajawa, Maumere and Ende — as structurally affected but still secure, with Bajawa reporting cracks in some housing units and workrooms and Ende also showing damage in several cells.
In the days immediately after the quake, prison staff at Ruteng moved inmates to an assembly area and into parts of the compound considered structurally stronger, while officials weighed options for temporary relocation. Food and other basic supplies were reported to remain available, and the corrections directorate coordinated with the regional disaster agency, the military and police to maintain security and prepare for evacuation if needed.
Evacuation to Bajawa and Ende
By early September, national and regional corrections officials reported that 132 prisoners from Ruteng had been evacuated to other facilities due to the risk of further damage and aftershocks. Before the quake, Ruteng housed 171 prisoners, meaning 39 inmates remained at or near Ruteng under tightened supervision.
Government reports cited by local media state that 52 prisoners were transferred to Bajawa Class IIB Detention Centre and 80 to Ende Class IIB Prison. The transfers were carried out with support from Manggarai district authorities, local police, the military and the public prosecutor’s office, according to statements by senior corrections officials.
Officials described the relocations as temporary measures until repairs at Ruteng can be completed and the facility deemed safe to resume normal operations. The Directorate General of Corrections said emergency funding and a technical damage assessment were being prepared to guide rebuilding, including work on perimeter walls, cell blocks and other structures at Ruteng and on repairs at Bajawa, Maumere and Ende.
Conditions at other facilities
Initial monitoring found that Bajawa’s perimeter wall remained intact and security was under control, despite cracks in some rooms and work areas. Maumere detention centre remained in use, with reported cracks but no serious structural failure. Ende prison was also described as safe, though engineers noted damage in certain cell blocks that required repairs.
Corrections officials said they were prioritising the safety of inmates and staff across all four Flores facilities while managing aftershocks and conducting further structural assessments. Longer-term plans include restoring Ruteng’s capacity and determining when evacuated prisoners can be returned once rebuilding is complete.
Sources
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