Labuan Bajo school resumes classes after light earthquake damage

Labuan Bajo — SMK Stella Maris resumed normal classes on 29 September 2026 after an evaluation found that school buildings affected by light earthquake damage remained suitable for teaching, according to Pos Kupang.

Why it matters: Students at SMK Stella Maris returned to morning and afternoon classes on 29 September after the school assessed lightly damaged buildings as suitable for teaching.

The school’s acting principal, Vinsensius Patno, said several buildings sustained minor damage. The school had been on break for about two weeks before students returned to both morning and afternoon sessions.

Before classes began, the school held daily briefings for students. The programme was intended to support students’ return to school, including through opportunities to share their experiences and support one another, according to the report.

SMK Stella Maris also continued character-building and religious activities in September, including scripture-reading competitions and reflection sessions, the school said through Pos Kupang.

Earthquake context

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency recorded a magnitude 5.2 earthquake on 27 August 2026, with its epicentre 52 kilometres northeast of Labuan Bajo at a depth of 10 kilometres.

A separate BMKG record listed a magnitude 2.4 earthquake in the Flores region on 23 September 2026. The available reports do not establish which earthquake caused the damage reported at the school.

Sources

• Pos Kupang
• BMKG