Police PR division buys quake relief logistics from local shops in Ruteng

Ruteng, Manggarai, Flores — Police public relations officers with Indonesia’s national police have purchased food and other basic supplies from local shops in Ruteng to be delivered as logistical aid to communities affected by the recent magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Flores, according to national media reports and police statements.

According to a report citing the Divisi Humas Polri, the public relations division coordinated the purchase of goods in Ruteng on Saturday, 19 September 2026. The effort involved personnel from local police forces in Manggarai and neighbouring districts, who were instructed to source items directly from neighborhood stores and pharmacies.

The division’s multimedia bureau oversaw the operation, which focused on buying health equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches and walkers from local pharmacies, alongside basic relief items including tarpaulins, blankets, stationery for children, and staple food packages. Buying from local businesses was described as a deliberate choice to support the local economy while meeting urgent humanitarian needs.

Media coverage of the initiative notes that the supplies are intended for residents in Manggarai and other parts of Flores who have been displaced or seen their homes and livelihoods disrupted by the earthquake and its aftermath. Local officials said the assistance would be prioritised for the most vulnerable groups identified in field assessments.

The logistics purchases in Ruteng come one month after the magnitude 7.7 quake struck Nagekeo, Flores, in the early hours of Saturday, 15 August 2026. The shallow tectonic event triggered a tsunami of about 1.6 metres in Reo, on the north coast of Manggarai, and caused severe shaking across northern Flores.

Indonesia’s meteorology agency has characterised the earthquake as a major event followed by an exceptionally high number of aftershocks, with more than fifteen thousand subsequent tremors recorded in the month after the mainshock. The seismic sequence has kept residents in Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada and surrounding districts on alert, with several aftershocks strong enough to be felt in Ruteng and nearby communities.

National and local disaster authorities report extensive damage to homes and public facilities across affected districts. Temporary shelters have been set up for thousands of people, and agencies have highlighted the urgent need for tents, food supplies, clean water, medicines, sleeping equipment and power generators in Manggarai and other parts of Flores.

Indonesia’s disaster management agency has also reported a rising casualty toll as assessments continue, including deaths directly caused by the earthquake and tsunami as well as those occurring later in evacuation centres. The humanitarian response now includes government bodies, security forces, local administrations and civil society organisations working to distribute aid and restore essential services.

Police in Manggarai have said the relief supplies purchased in Ruteng will be distributed transparently in coordination with local authorities and community representatives. Officers are expected to deliver the items to evacuation sites and villages based on priority needs, as continuing aftershocks and infrastructure damage complicate access to some remote areas of northern Flores.

Sources

• Detikcom
• Liputan6
• Okezone
• CNN Indonesia
• BMKG (via Facebook post)
• RRI
• Metro TV
• kupang.tribunnews.com