Public Works Ministry Starts Repairs on Quake-Damaged Worship Sites in Flores

Labuan Bajo — — The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing has begun structural repairs to houses of worship damaged in the recent Flores earthquake, focusing initial work on two sites in Manggarai regency in East Nusa Tenggara.

According to Indonesia’s public broadcaster RRI, the ministry is renovating the Catholic Church of St Peter and Paul in Dampek and the Nurul Huda Mosque in Reo, both in Manggarai. The works include demolition of severely cracked ceilings and walls and reinforcement of the main structure to restore safe use of the buildings.

RRI reports that the ministry, through its Building, Facilities and Area Office for NTT, is continuing assessments of damaged public-service buildings in Flores to determine which can be reused, strengthened, rehabilitated or rebuilt. A separate human-interest report on post-quake recovery notes that the Ministry of Religious Affairs has provided Rp3 billion in emergency assistance and temporary learning spaces for affected communities and religious institutions.

Hundreds of houses of worship damaged

The earthquake caused extensive damage to religious facilities across Flores and wider NTT. Data from the NTT office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs cited by national media indicate that 509 houses of worship were affected. These comprise 422 Catholic, 33 Protestant, 51 Islamic, one Hindu and two Buddhist sites.

The same data set records damage to 94 religious education facilities, seven Ministry of Religious Affairs offices, 12 Offices of Religious Affairs (KUA), one facility of the Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB) and 343 homes of ministry staff. Officials say these figures remain provisional as rapid assessments continue in areas where aftershocks are still being felt.

In Labuan Bajo on 3 September, the Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar handed over Rp3 billion in emergency funding for communities affected by the quake. According to ministry statements carried by local media, the assistance is aimed at meeting basic needs and supporting education and religious services, and does not yet cover rebuilding damaged structures.

Emergency assistance before reconstruction

Reports from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and regional media stress that current support to religious institutions focuses on emergency relief and continuity of worship and education, not physical reconstruction. Officials say decisions on rebuilding damaged houses of worship will depend on ongoing damage assessments and coordination with other ministries responsible for infrastructure, including the Ministry of Public Works.

Public Works officials quoted by RRI state that their technical teams are inspecting damaged public-service buildings, including houses of worship, to classify structures for continued use, reinforcement, rehabilitation or full reconstruction. Recommended measures at the two Manggarai worship sites include removing heavily cracked elements and strengthening load-bearing components to ensure safety.

Separate coverage by national outlets highlights broader community recovery efforts. Aid initiatives led by civil society groups such as NU Peduli include plans for cleaning and basic restoration of mosques and other worship spaces, alongside assistance to affected households and camps. These activities are expected to continue through mid-September as part of longer-term recovery.

Next steps in Flores recovery

Government and religious-affairs officials say updated damage data from NTT will guide future decisions on rebuilding worship facilities and other religious infrastructure. With hundreds of sites damaged and many communities still relying on temporary shelters for worship and schooling, the prioritisation of structural repairs is likely to focus on safety, accessibility and the number of people served.

For now, confirmed reconstruction work on houses of worship in Flores is limited to the Public Works-led renovations at the Dampek church and Reo mosque in Manggarai, while emergency assistance and rapid assessments continue across the province.

Sources

• RRI.co.id – "Kementerian PU Mulai Renovasi Rumah Ibadah Terdampak Gempa di Flores"
• MediaIndonesia.com – "Gempa Flores Rusak 509 Rumah Ibadah, Kemenag Gerak Cepat Turun Tangan"
• Pos-Kupang.com – "Menteri Agama Serahkan Bantuan Rp3 Miliar untuk Korban Gempa Flores, Pendidikan Jadi Perhatian"
• NU Online – "NU Peduli NTT Lanjut Salurkan Bantuan, Pemulihan Masjid Jadi Prioritas Usai Gempa Flores"