Police sea mission brings earthquake aid to Pasir Panjang hamlet

Labuan Bajo, Indonesia — — A joint team of 23 Indonesian police personnel delivered emergency supplies by sea to earthquake-affected residents in Pasir Panjang hamlet, Pontianak village, Boleng district, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday, 5 September 2026, according to Radio Republik Indonesia and the West Manggarai Police public-relations office.

The mission involved personnel from the West Manggarai Police Water and Air Unit, the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Police Water and Air Directorate, and the National Police’s Korpolairud under the Baharkam division. The team departed from the Marina Waterfront Labuan Bajo pier aboard patrol vessel KP Padar 3018, accompanied by rigid inflatable boat RIB 03, and reached the waters off Pasir Panjang after a sea journey of about two hours.

On arrival, the patrol vessel could not berth alongside the shore because there is no adequate dock or port facility for a large vessel at Pasir Panjang. Police personnel therefore moved the cargo to local fishing boats and the rigid inflatable boat offshore before it was taken to the beach for handover to residents.

Supplies delivered to coastal families

According to RRI, the shipment was handed to local community representatives in Pasir Panjang for distribution to families affected by the earthquake. The outlets did not specify how many households were expected to receive the aid.

RRI and the West Manggarai Police account reported that the cargo consisted of basic foodstuffs, clothing and household items. The listed shipment included:

• 60 sacks of SPHP rice
• 20 boxes of instant noodles and five boxes of Roma Malkist biscuits
• One bale of blankets, one bale of towels and 10 boxes of dry tissues
• 210 pieces of boys’ clothing, 130 women’s clothing items and 100 adult sarongs

Kasat Polairud Polres Manggarai Barat Iptu Leonardo Marpaung said the sea route was chosen because land access to Pasir Panjang is very limited and cannot be used by vehicles. He described the transfer of aid as focused on the coastal area of Pasir Panjang so that basic necessities could reach residents “quickly, safely and on target”, according to his statement quoted by RRI and the police website.

The West Manggarai Police public-relations report added that the route from the regency’s main area to Pasir Panjang covers around 140 kilometres through rugged terrain and dense forest, contributing to the isolation of the hamlet after the earthquake. Police officers coordinated with local fishermen to complete the final movement of the supplies from the patrol vessel to the shoreline.

Local figures cited by the police account expressed appreciation for the delivery, saying the food and clothing were important for residents facing post-earthquake difficulties. The reports did not identify the community leaders by full name.

Ongoing coordination and monitoring

The West Manggarai Police said it would continue coordinating with the Pontianak village administration and Boleng district authorities to monitor residents’ conditions and the adequacy of available food stocks. Police watercraft will remain on standby for further deliveries to Pasir Panjang and other coastal locations if required, according to the official statement.

RRI and the police account both highlighted limited land access and the lack of docking infrastructure for larger vessels as the main logistical constraints in reaching Pasir Panjang. The operation on 5 September formed part of a wider series of sea-based aid missions to isolated coastal and island communities affected by the Flores earthquake.

Context

The sea deployment to Pasir Panjang took place on Saturday, 5 September 2026, in the aftermath of an earthquake that disrupted overland access for residents on the Boleng coast. The mission was publicly described by West Manggarai Police on Sunday, 6 September, and reported by RRI on Monday, 7 September.

Both accounts underline that, in the absence of a functional dock at Pasir Panjang and with road access constrained by geography, police maritime units have been used to bridge the gap between Labuan Bajo and remote coastal hamlets along the Flores Sea. Similar sea routes have been employed for deliveries to other affected communities in West Manggarai as part of the emergency response.

Sources

• RRI.co.id – Tak Ada Dermaga, Polisi Pindahkan Bantuan Gempa di tengah Laut ke Pasir Panjang
• Okebajo.com – Demi Warga Terisolasi, 5 Dus Biskuit “Nekat” Menyeberangi Laut Flores
• Tribun Flores – Akses Darat ke Desa Nggilat Manggarai Barat Sulit, Polisi Bawa Bantuan Lewat Laut Pakai Perahu
• Humas Polres Manggarai Barat