Govt Optimizes Ferry Services to Deliver Aid to Earthquake-Hit NTT

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Land Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation is optimizing ferry services to support the distribution of logistical assistance and post-earthquake response efforts in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Director General of Land Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Aan Suhanan, said the ferry services were also being utilized to transport heavy equipment needed to clear debris following the disaster.

"Today, the KMP Ile Ape transported two excavators to assist in clearing debris caused by the earthquake in Palue, Sikka Regency, NTT. The vessel also carried Sikka Police personnel and five doctors," Aan said in an official statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

He said transporting heavy equipment by ferry is expected to help clear landslide debris blocking roads following the earthquake, thereby restoring connectivity between isolated areas.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Land Transportation, through the Class II Land Transportation Management Agency (BPTD) of NTT, has also deployed pioneer buses to distribute aid while supporting efforts to reopen road access and maintain ferry services.

"We continue to make every effort to serve vital pioneer ferry routes for Ende Regency and support mobility as well as the distribution of aid and logistical supplies following the disaster," he said.

The Ministry of Transportation is also continuing to coordinate with various stakeholders to address disruptions on the Trans-Flores road, which had previously been completely inaccessible. Based on field monitoring and verification, the road is now accessible again, allowing logistical distribution to resume.

In addition to transportation support, the Ministry of Transportation distributed essential supplies to affected residents at the Gelora Samador evacuation center in Maumere. The assistance included hundreds of five-kilogram packages of rice, canned food, hundreds of boxes of instant noodles, and 1.5-liter bottles of mineral water.