RRI.CO.ID, Tokyo -The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Tokyo said that several Indonesian nationals (WNI) affected by the earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan, are still staying in temporary evacuation shelters due to damage to their homes and limited access to clean water.

Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir said the Embassy’s Emergency Response Team has continued distributing humanitarian aid while monitoring the condition of affected Indonesians in several areas since 1 August 2026. The most urgent needs currently include bottled water, ready-to -eat meals, and eating utensils.

“We are grateful that some Indonesians have been able to return to their homes and resume work as usual. However, others are still staying in evacuation shelters because their homes were damaged and clean water remains limited. We urge all Indonesian nationals to continue following instructions from the local authorities, stay in close communication with one another, and immediately contact the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo if they require emergency assistance,” Ambassador Kartini said in a written statement issued by the Embassy on Monday, 3 August 2026.

Meanwhile, the Embassy’s Emergency Response Team, led by First Secretary for Protocol and Consular Affairs Hernawan Bagaskoro Abid, has delivered assistance to affected Indonesians in Uto, Uki, and Yatsushiro. These areas continue to face shortages of clean water, and a number of Indonesians are still living in evacuation centers.

According to data from the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, there were 5,032 Indonesian nationals residing in Kumamoto Prefecture as of December 2025. Of that number, 214 were directly affected by the earthquake that struck Kumamoto on 28 July 2026.

One of the affected Indonesians in Uto, Nurul Khotimah, said she is still receiving bottled water and bread provided by the local government. She explained that the damage to the apartment where she lives has prevented her and several other Indonesians from returning to their normal daily lives.

“We faced severe shortages of drinking water and food supplies during the first two days after the earthquake. The apartment we live in suffered cracks in the walls, while the doors and windows became difficult to open. The assistance provided by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo has been a great help to us,” Nurul said.

The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo also expressed its appreciation to Indonesian community organizations in Japan for assisting in the distribution of aid and serving as communication links for affected Indonesian nationals. The Embassy, together with the Consulate General of Indonesia in Osaka, continues to coordinate with the Japanese authorities and Indonesian community networks to monitor developments in the earthquake-affected areas.