NAGEKEO, thekabarnews.com—President Prabowo Subianto led a high-level disaster-response meeting in Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday, August 26. The government is accelerating relief and reconstruction following the deadly magnitude-7.7 Flores earthquake.

The meeting took place at the earthquake-response command post at the Army’s Territorial Development Infantry Battalion 834/Wakanga Mere.

Cabinet ministers, National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Deputy TNI Commander Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita and East Nusa Tenggara regional leaders attended.

National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) chief Lt. Gen. Suharyanto told the meeting that authorities had recorded 105 deaths and 1,678 injuries. Additionally, there were 179,037 displaced residents.

The disaster had damaged 81,436 homes as of August 26, according to the State Secretariat.

BNPB identified seven principal affected regencies: West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada, Ende and Sikka.

Suharyanto said fear generated by continuing aftershocks had contributed to the high number of displaced residents.

The August 15 earthquake struck offshore, approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Mbay, Nagekeo, at a depth of 15 kilometers.

BMKG attributed the shallow earthquake to activity along the Flores Back-Arc Thrust. The agency detected small tsunami waves reaching 0.36 meters in Labuan Bajo, 0.19 meters in Sikka and 0.17 meters in Dompu. Subsequently, it ended its warning at 7:30 a.m.

BMKG said the warning system issued information within minutes of the earthquake.

Prabowo announced Rp200 billion in community assistance to support disaster operations. The package allocates Rp40 billion to the East Nusa Tenggara provincial administration and Rp20 billion to each of eight regencies.

The eight recipients are West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ende, Ngada, Nagekeo, Sikka and Flores Timur. The funding coverage is therefore broader than BNPB’s list of seven principal disaster-affected regencies.

Suharyanto said local administrations had received the money and must use it exclusively for disaster response.

“The assistance must not be used for anything other than disaster management,” he said, according to the State Secretariat’s official statement.

The government said food, medical care, fuel, electricity and clean-water supplies remained available during the emergency period.

Public works teams have reopened national roads and bridges previously blocked by landslides. Meanwhile, officials continue to assess damaged homes and public facilities.

After the meeting, Prabowo visited an evacuation center at Lapangan Berdikari to speak with survivors and hear their immediate concerns.

“I express my appreciation to all of you. Record those who have worked hard, performed their duties properly and made sacrifices,” Prabowo remarked.

Authorities said the casualty and damage figures remained subject to field verification as emergency assessments continued.