Navy Hospital Ship KRI dr. Soeharso Backs Manggarai Health Services After NTT Quake

Labuan Bajo — The Indonesian Navy hospital ship KRI dr. Soeharso-990 has been operating as a floating hospital at Reo Port in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, providing surgery and other medical care to residents affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the province on 15 August 2026, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

The ship sailed from Surabaya and berthed at Reo Port on Friday, 21 August 2026, to reinforce health services in the earthquake-affected area, BNPB said in a briefing quoted by several Indonesian media outlets.

BNPB’s acting head of disaster data, information and communication, Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, said that as of Saturday, 22 August 2026, KRI dr. Soeharso had treated 21 patients, including people requiring fracture surgery, laceration treatment, outpatient care and three inpatients.

Other reports quoting BNPB later stated that the ship’s total caseload reached 22 patients by the same date, reflecting a minor difference in figures between updates.

Capabilities of KRI dr. Soeharso

BNPB and Navy officials describe KRI dr. Soeharso-990 as a dedicated hospital ship designed to deliver surgery and other advanced medical services at sea.

The vessel has facilities to perform major operations on disaster victims and carries an inpatient ward that can accommodate up to 75 patients, according to BNPB’s briefing on the health sector response.

A combined medical team from the Indonesian Navy and the Ministry of Health staffs the ship, providing services that include general examinations, wound treatment, fracture surgery, emergency care and inpatient monitoring around the clock, according to statements reported by national media.

The ship functions as an extension of existing health facilities, enabling cases that require more complex procedures than basic field care to be managed without immediate transfer to distant hospitals.

Role in the wider health response

The deployment of KRI dr. Soeharso forms part of a broader health response coordinated by BNPB and the Ministry of Health following the earthquake.

BNPB said the Navy had also deployed other vessels, including logistics and support ships, to move aid and personnel into Manggarai and surrounding districts.

BNPB officials reported that patients from evacuation sites, including Lamba Leda in Manggarai, were being referred to the ship for further treatment, underlining its role as a referral centre for more serious injuries.

The Ministry of Health and BNPB also established field hospitals on land and maintained additional floating hospital capacity through the Ksatria Airlangga hospital ship operating in neighbouring Manggarai Timur district.

Government statements in early September indicated that as fixed health facilities gradually returned to normal operations, the Navy’s hospital ships, including KRI dr. Soeharso-990, were being released back to their home bases once local services could again handle most patient needs.

Timeline

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck parts of East Nusa Tenggara on 15 August 2026, causing deaths, injuries and damage to infrastructure, including health facilities.

BNPB and the Navy reported that KRI dr. Soeharso departed from Surabaya and arrived at Reo Port in Manggarai on 21 August 2026, where it began operating as a floating hospital.

As of Saturday, 22 August 2026, BNPB said the ship had treated 21 patients, while a subsequent update reported a total of 22 patients.

By late August and early September, BNPB and other government officials were reporting gradual recovery of health services in NTT, with field hospitals continuing to operate and KRI dr. Soeharso-990 ultimately returning to its base once land-based facilities resumed normal service.

Sources

• HT Syndication / Antara pickup: "Indonesia deploys KRI Dr. Soeharso to quake-hit East Nusa Tenggara"
• RRI Singaraja: "KRI dr. Soeharso Tiba di Manggarai, Layani 21 Pasien Pascagempa NTT"
• Metro TV News: "RS Apung KRI dr Soeharso Layani Operasi 22 Pasien Korban Gempa NTT"
• KompasTV: "Distribusikan Bantuan Korban Gempa NTT, Pemerintah Kerahkan KRI Bung Hatta"
• Detiknews: "Kapal RS Terapung Tiba di Pelabuhan Reo di NTT, Tampung 75 Pasien"
• HubLombok: "Hospital Ship Reaches Manggarai After East Nusa Tenggara Earthquake"
• Investor.id: "Infrastruktur hingga Layanan Kesehatan Mulai Pulih Pascagempa di NTT"