Ministry of Manpower sends first aid packages to Flores quake victims

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower has begun distributing aid worth Rp119.7 million to residents affected by recent earthquakes on Flores Island, launching the first phase of its Kemnaker Peduli programme on 9 September 2026 in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara province, according to an official statement and local media reports.

The ministry said the initial phase consists of 250 food packages, 250 envelopes of financial assistance and 20 tarpaulins, funded by donations from Kemnaker staff and partners. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has recorded a series of significant quakes on Flores linked to a magnitude 7.7 event and its aftershocks, with strong shaking reported in West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo and Sikka regencies.

The ministry reported that the first distributions began in West Manggarai Regency, where 60 food packages and cash assistance were handed out in two sessions, morning and afternoon. In the afternoon, Kemnaker Peduli volunteers were dispatched to Nagekeo Regency to deliver 80 food packages and financial assistance. A further 110 packages are designated for Reo, Lembor and Mbeliling areas, bringing the first-phase total to 250 packages alongside 250 cash envelopes and 20 tarpaulins.

Where the first assistance is going

The aid rollout was reviewed in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, by Sukro Muhab, a special staff member to the Minister of Manpower. In the ministry’s account, Sukro said the assistance was collected from Kemnaker personnel and partner organisations to support communities affected by the earthquakes on Flores. He added that the programme aims to reach multiple regencies, including West Manggarai, East Manggarai, Manggarai Regency and Nagekeo.

The ministry’s release states that the 20 tarpaulins provided in this phase are being allocated to East Manggarai, Nagekeo and Reo. It did not specify the number of tarpaulins assigned to each location. The statement also notes that state-owned water resources company Perum Jasa Tirta contributed Rp18 million to the programme, while the Forum of Accredited Job Training Institution Accreditation Bodies (Forum LA-LPK) supplied the tarpaulins.

Earthquake backdrop on Flores

BMKG has described an ongoing sequence of earthquakes affecting Flores, driven by activity along the Flores Back-Arc Thrust zone. On 8 September 2026, a tectonic quake with updated magnitude 5.1 struck at a depth of 10 km, with an epicentre in the sea about 57 km northeast of Ruteng, Manggarai, and was felt at intensity IV MMI in parts of Manggarai and East Manggarai. BMKG stated that this event did not generate a tsunami.

In a broader analysis of the magnitude 7.7 Flores earthquake and its aftershocks, BMKG reported maximum shaking intensity of VII MMI in parts of West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo and Sikka. Local media citing BMKG data have reported thousands of aftershocks and fatalities across several regencies, including Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo, Sikka, Ngada and West Manggarai.

Planned continuation of aid

According to the Ministry of Manpower, aid distribution under Kemnaker Peduli is expected to continue beyond the first phase as teams reach additional locations across Flores. The ministry’s statement indicates planned coverage for West Manggarai, East Manggarai, Manggarai Regency and Nagekeo, as well as other affected areas, but does not yet provide a detailed schedule for follow-up distributions or the total number of households targeted.

Both the ministry and BMKG emphasise that the sequence of earthquakes has affected communities across multiple regencies on Flores, prompting ongoing government and partner support. As aftershocks continue to be recorded, authorities are using field surveys and shakemap analyses to guide mitigation, reconstruction and the allocation of assistance to the hardest-hit areas.

Sources

• Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia – Kemnaker Salurkan Bantuan bagi Warga Terdampak Gempa di Pulau Flores
• Metro TV News – Government Continues Sent Aid to Flores Earthquake Affected Residents
• BMKG – Gempa Flores Meluruh, BMKG Ungkap Hasil Survei Lapangan sebagai Basis Mitigasi dan Rekonstruksi (Press release)
• Tribun Flores – Gempa Susulan Flores Capai 13.156 Kali hingga 7 September 2026
• Detik Bali/Nusra – 10.863 Gempa Susulan Landa Flores, Warga Diminta Hindari Bangunan Retak