Riung Police Distribute Food and School Supplies After Flores Quake

Labuan Bajo — Police in Riung, Ngada Regency, distributed food and school supplies to residents and students affected by an earthquake in northern Flores on Friday, 18 September 2026, according to Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI).

RRI reported that the operation was carried out by the Riung Police Sector under the Ngada Police and led by Riung police chief First Inspector (IPDA) Martinus Riang. The distribution formed part of ongoing post-quake support in the area after a major earthquake sequence in August, when a magnitude 7.7 event struck Flores, followed by thousands of aftershocks.

According to the RRI report, police delivered basic household items to residents and school-related assistance to students from elementary through senior high school levels. The aid was described as humanitarian support for communities still recovering from the impact of the earthquake and its aftershocks.

What was distributed

RRI stated that supplies for residents included blankets, cooking oil, tea bags, sweet soy sauce and biscuits. Students received shoes and school uniforms for primary, junior high and senior high school grades.

Police framed the assistance as part of the national police’s humanitarian role alongside its security function, aiming to ease the burden on residents and help children continue schooling during the recovery period, according to RRI. Ngada police also said they would keep monitoring areas that still required support so future aid could be adjusted to conditions in the field.

Reported assistance:

• Residents: blankets, cooking oil, tea, sweet soy sauce and biscuits.
• Students: shoes and uniforms for elementary, junior high and senior high school.
• Location: Riung District, Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

Broader quake response in Riung area

The September 18 distribution was one of several police-led humanitarian activities in Riung and nearby areas following the Flores earthquake sequence.

Earlier in September, RRI reported that Ngada Police and Riung Police personnel delivered social assistance, health services and trauma-healing activities to residents in Bekek, Tadho Tengah village, Riung District, under the “Sentuhan Kasih Kapolda NTT” programme for communities affected by the quake. Warisan Budaya Nusantara, a local outlet, also reported police and health staff distributing aid, medical services and trauma therapy in remote Warunembu, Nili Waro Sae village, Riung Barat District, on 5 September 2026.

The earthquake sequence in Flores has caused casualties and damage across parts of East Nusa Tenggara. Data cited by Pos-Kupang, based on the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), reported at least 127 fatalities and more than 1,700 people injured or ill in the province as of 3 September 2026, following the magnitude 7.7 event on 15 August.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) later described a 5.1-magnitude aftershock on 8 September 2026 offshore Flores, linked to the Flores Back-Arc Thrust system and part of a sequence of more than 13,000 aftershocks after the main quake.

Police assistance in Riung, including the 18 September distribution of daily necessities and school items, has been presented by authorities as part of broader efforts to support affected communities as they continue the recovery process.

Sources

• RRI.co.id – Polsek Riung Salurkan Bantuan untuk Korban Gempa
• Warisan Budaya Nusantara – Pemerintah Kecamatan Riung Barat Apresiasi Bantuan Polda NTT untuk Warga Terdampak Gempa
• Pos-Kupang – Data BNPB: Korban Meninggal Dunia Akibat Gempa NTT Tembus 127 Orang, 1.712 orang Luka atau Sakit
• BMKG – Gempa Bumi M5,2 – 60 km BaratLaut Manggarai Timur-NTT (update M5,1)