NTT police chief opens renovated Pulau Kukusan school, delivers quake aid
East Nusa Tenggara’s police chief visited Pulau Kukusan on 1 September 2026, delivering food and children’s milk, leading trauma-healing activities and inaugurating newly renovated classrooms at MI Al-Hidayah for the island’s 46 pupils…
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 3 min read
Labuan Bajo — — East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Inspector General Rudi Darmoko visited earthquake-affected Pulau Kukusan in Komodo district on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, delivering humanitarian assistance and inaugurating renovated classrooms at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Al-Hidayah, according to Detik and RRI.
The delegation distributed basic food packages and milk for children to residents impacted by the Flores earthquake, which had a reported magnitude of 7.7 on 15 August 2026, according to Metro TV. Police personnel also led trauma-healing activities with pupils at MI Al-Hidayah, involving games and interaction to help reduce fear and anxiety after the quake, according to RRI and Metro TV.
Darmoko said the visit aimed to support residents of the remote island and help children resume learning in safer conditions after the disaster, according to Detik. The programme combined delivery of logistical aid with informal activities in the school compound.
School repairs and facilities
During the visit, Darmoko officiated the revitalisation of MI Al-Hidayah, where two classrooms had been renovated with support from the East Nusa Tenggara Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud), according to RRI. The renovation included new learning facilities such as 50 student chairs and desks, two teacher’s desks and chairs, and school bags and stationery for pupils, RRI reported.
Before the repairs, some pupils had been studying under trees because of limited classroom space, according to Metro TV. After the revitalisation, the school now has four usable classrooms, an improvement from only two rooms previously available, according to an RCTI+ report.
MI Al-Hidayah serves 46 students from grades one to six, supported by four teachers, according to RRI and RCTI+. Police officials said they would continue working with the community to improve learning facilities on the island.
Island community and earthquake response
Pulau Kukusan is part of Pasir Panjang village in Komodo district, West Manggarai, and lies within the wider Komodo area, according to Detik and RRI. The island is accessible by sea from Labuan Bajo and relies on boat transport for connection to mainland services.
According to Detik, around 85 families live on Pulau Kukusan, with a population of roughly 300 people. Residents were among those affected by the Flores earthquake, which struck on 15 August 2026 and prompted a broader logistics operation by the national police, including shipments of food, cooking equipment and tents via Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, Metro TV reported.
The trauma-healing activities in Pulau Kukusan formed part of a wider effort by police psychologists and officers to support children’s recovery after the quake, according to RRI. Follow-up plans included additional health services for residents and continued assistance to the school and community.
The visit to Pulau Kukusan involved senior East Nusa Tenggara police officials and personnel from the Water and Air Police unit, women police officers and visiting psychology teams, according to Detik and RRI. Local reports described the combination of classroom revitalisation, aid distribution and trauma support as an attempt to restore daily routines and learning conditions for children in one of the small island communities around Komodo National Park.
Sources
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