Govt Prepares 48 Power Generators for Healthcare Facilities in NTT

RRI.CO.ID, Nagekeo – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is deploying 48 power generators to healthcare facilities in disaster-affected areas across East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The assistance comes as residents, such as 46-year-old Kristian Mauko, mark their first week in temporary shelters following a devastating earthquake and tsunami that destroyed homes in Marapokot Village, highlighting the urgent need for safe housing and essential services.

Kristian, a father of four who works as a casual laborer, fisherman, and handyman, shared that most of his neighbors were also forced to flee. "We have been here for a week. Our home was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami, and all our neighbors have evacuated here as well," he said.

Similarly, Maria Jomuku, a widowed farmer and mother of five, fled her home in Tonggu Rambang, Bandara Hamlet, after the quake cracked its structure. Although the house did not collapse, Maria chose to stay in the shelter out of fear of aftershocks.

"We evacuated because of the continuous aftershocks. We are terrified the house might collapse or that another tsunami might hit," she said.

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, met with affected residents during a visit to Berdikari Field in Nagekeo Regency on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The President expressed his deep condolences to families who lost loved ones and outlined the government's emergency response measures.

During the visit, Minister of ESDM, Bahlil Lahadalia, shared an update on energy support during the President's visit to Nagekeo Regency. He highlighted the urgent need to keep local healthcare facilities powered after the natural disaster.

"The Ministry of ESDM will dispatch 48 generators to community health center tents to support medical treatment, as they currently lack backup power," Bahlil explained.

The 48 generators will be distributed across seven affected regencies. In addition, the Ministry of ESDM and energy sector business partners have established around 30 emergency response posts to ensure basic services, particularly healthcare, remain operational during the post-disaster period.

Earlier, under the "ESDM Disaster Alert" (ESDM Siaga Bencana) initiative active since August 16, 2026, the ministry deployed personnel and humanitarian aid to several affected regions in NTT. The assistance encompasses search and rescue operations, medical care, and logistics distribution.

For residents like Maria and Kristian, the immediate focus remains family safety and securing proper shelter. As recovery efforts progress, energy support, healthcare services, logistics, and field operations remain critical to meeting the population's needs throughout the emergency response and transition toward full recovery.