MANGGARAI, thekabarnes.com—The West Sumatra provincial administration has delivered more than two metric tons of packaged rendang to communities affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake and tsunami. These disasters struck Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), earlier this month.

Governor Mahyeldi Ansharullah handed over the food assistance at BNPB’s forward logistics post in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, on Tuesday, August 25. Thereafter, he joined officials in distributing part of the shipment to Manggarai Regency.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported the donation as 2.2 tons. A separate West Sumatra provincial administration gave the more precise figure of 2.12 tons. The difference appears to result from rounding rather than separate shipments.

Civil servants (ASN) and members of the public in West Sumatra donated the food through the provincial disaster-management agency.

BNPB officials received the shipment and coordinated its onward delivery to affected communities and emergency personnel.

“We brought rendang collected by employees and members of the public in West Sumatra,” Mahyeldi said.

“This assistance comes from the people of West Sumatra, who also share the grief. East Nusa Tenggara is not alone. Our brothers and sisters on other Indonesian islands also feel their pain,” he added.

Officials transported 500 kilograms of rendang from Labuan Bajo to Manggarai using an aircraft facilitated by BNPB.

Manggarai Regent Herybertus Geradus Laju Nabit received the shipment after meeting Mahyeldi and BNPB Deputy for Prevention Abdul Muhari.

Mahyeldi said rendang was selected because it lasts relatively long, is easy to transport and can be served quickly with rice during an emergency.

“Such aid is an expression of solidarity and concern among fellow citizens. We hope this assistance can help meet the food needs of affected communities while also supporting personnel working in the field,” he said.

Abdul said BNPB would distribute donations gradually because damaged roads, difficult terrain and the distance between affected settlements continued to complicate delivery.

“We at BNPB have a duty to deliver the trust placed in us by West Sumatra, other provinces, institutions and other entities so that it reaches affected communities,” Abdul said.

“We continue working until the assistance reaches the people. Distribution from our posts takes place in stages,” he added.

The BNPB began when a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck north of Nagekeo on August 15. BMKG traced the shallow, 15-kilometer-deep earthquake to movement along the Flores Back-Arc Thrust.

The BMKG recorded tsunami waves at 10 coastal monitoring locations, including 0.36 meters in Labuan Bajo and 0.94 meters at Maurole in Ende. Later, the BMKG lifted its warning at 7:30 a.m.

The BMKG later recorded 4,258 aftershocks by August 21, including 118 felt by residents.

Governor Mahyeldi said West Sumatra was continuing to coordinate additional support. This leaves open the possibility of further assistance for survivors as recovery operations progress.