Several Ministers Hold Independence Day Ceremony at Disaster Site in NTT

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Several ministers and vice ministers of the Red and White Cabinet were absent from the Independence Day Commemoration Ceremony with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday, 17 August 2026. These officials were confirmed to be holding the 81st Independence Day ceremony in East Nusa Tenggara to directly monitor post-disaster management.

This decision was made after the Flores region in East Nusa Tenggara was struck by a magnitude 7.7 tectonic earthquake on Saturday, 15 August 2026. Before the ceremony commemorating the moments leading up to the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday, 17 August 2026, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the presence of ministers at the disaster site represents the government’s commitment to ensuring that disaster response efforts proceed optimally.

“Because a severe earthquake has struck East Nusa Tenggara, several ministers are leading the ceremony today. For example, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Public Works, the Vice Minister of Health, and the Vice Minister of Social Affairs are currently in East Nusa Tenggara to monitor and ensure the response to the disaster that occurred on Saturday,” the State Secretary explained.

Hadi stated that this year’s Independence Day celebrations were marked by deep concern for the people of NTT. He said the government continues to do its utmost to ensure that all those affected by the earthquake are receiving maximum support.

He emphasized, “So, as we celebrate Independence Day, we must, of course, ensure that our fellow citizens who were recently affected by the disaster are all being taken care of as best as possible.”

On the second day after the disaster, the government dispatched an additional 25 metric tons of relief supplies to the earthquake-affected areas in East Nusa Tenggara on Sunday, 16 August 2026. The relief supplies included ready-to-eat meals, basic food items, medicines, medical equipment, tents, and clean potable water.

In addition, since the day of the disaster, a number of relevant officials have been on-site at various affected locations to directly oversee post-disaster response efforts. The government’s response measures demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that the needs of the affected communities are met and that aid reaches the disaster sites promptly.