NAGEKEO, thekabarnews.com—Nagekeo Deputy Regent Gonzalo Gratianus Muga Sada died on Saturday evening, Oct. 3, while the regency was recovering from a major earthquake that struck Flores in August. He was 66.

Gonzalo died at around 8:10 p.m. WITA at Aeramo Regional General Hospital in Mbay. Hospital director Chandrawati Saragih said he arrived at the emergency department at approximately 7:32 p.m. after the Kota Community Health Center referred him in critical condition.

“He was treated by an anesthesiologist and an internal medicine specialist. His condition was already poor and critical. Not long afterward, Dr. Eric pronounced him dead at around 8:10 p.m.,” Chandrawati said.

Medical personnel provided emergency treatment after Gonzalo arrived unconscious. Chandrawati said doctors suspected a heart attack, but the hospital had not announced a definitive cause of death. The medical team treated him for about half an hour before declaring him dead.

Gonzalo’s death came as Nagekeo continued its emergency response and reconstruction work following the magnitude-7.7 earthquake on Aug. 15. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported the offshore earthquake struck about 38 kilometers northeast of Mbay at a depth of 15 kilometers.

The local administration appointed Gonzalo to lead its task force for accelerating the response to the Flores earthquake. He regularly visited evacuation centers and coordinated recovery measures with disaster-management personnel.

Three days before his death, Gonzalo attended an infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction meeting at the Presidential Staff Office in Jakarta. He presented Nagekeo’s recovery needs to central government officials.

He reportedly remained active at the Nagekeo disaster-response post on Friday, one day before his death. His final official duties included assisting humanitarian activities and accompanying government officials during inspections of earthquake-damaged infrastructure.

Nagekeo Legislative Council (DPRD) Speaker Shafar Laga Rema paid his final respects to Gonzalo during an official farewell ceremony at the Nagekeo Regent’s Office hall on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Shafar described Gonzalo as a dedicated public servant and a constructive partner of the local legislature.

“On behalf of the leadership and all members of the Nagekeo Legislative Council, we extend our deepest condolences. Nagekeo has lost one of its finest sons,” Shafar said.

Shafar, a National Awakening Party politician, serves as council speaker for the 2024–2029 term. He had worked closely with Gonzalo and other members of the regional administration.

Nagekeo Regent Simplisius Donatus, Deputy Council Speaker Yohanes Siga, members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum and hundreds of civil servants attended the ceremony. The local administration also declared a period of mourning following Gonzalo’s death.

Gonzalo and Simplisius won the 2024 regional election and took office on Feb. 20, 2025, for the 2025–2030 term. Before becoming deputy regent, Gonzalo represented the Perindo Party in the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Legislative Council from 2019 to 2024.

The dprd.nttprov.go.id lists Gonzalo as having been born in Fatutae on Oct. 7, 1959. His death leaves Nagekeo without its deputy regent as the local government continues the difficult process of rebuilding after the Flores earthquake.