Indonesia maintains secure food reserves for East Nusa Tenggara earthquake relief operations

Food stocks secure after East Nusa Tenggara Quake, Bulog says

Indonesia's state logistics corporation Bulog has confirmed that food reserves in East Nusa Tenggara remain secure to support communities affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off the coast of Flores Island on August 15, 2026. The quake, which hit at 05:58 local time with its epicenter approximately 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende city, killed at least 69 people and injured 331 others, while generating tsunamis reaching up to 1.61 meters in height.

Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani reported that the province currently holds between 35,000 and 37,000 metric tons of rice, which he characterized as sufficient for immediate relief operations.

"Stocks are secure. If more is needed, we will increase supplies."

The disaster destroyed more than 900 homes and damaged 450 others across the province, forcing approximately 5,000 people into temporary shelters. Bulog is now distributing rice throughout East Nusa Tenggara to supply impacted areas without disrupting normal commercial distribution channels.

Local branch offices in affected districts and municipalities have been ordered to maintain at least 20 metric tons of rice ready for immediate dispatch. Each area will also receive an additional 1,000 liters of MinyaKita government-subsidized cooking oil to support emergency public kitchens. MinyaKita is distributed under Indonesia's Domestic Market Obligation scheme with a regulated price ceiling of Rp15,700 per liter.

Infrastructure challenges prompt contingency planning

Landslides triggered by the earthquake blocked sections of the Trans-Flores Highway, a roughly 700-kilometer road linking communities across the mountainous island, hampering rescue and relief efforts. Authorities have recorded at least 995 aftershocks following the main quake, with the largest measuring magnitude 6.2, creating ongoing challenges for emergency operations.

To mitigate logistical bottlenecks caused by damaged infrastructure, Bulog is preparing backup shipments from neighboring West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi provinces.

"Challenging geography and limited communications in some areas prompted us to prepare larger reserves than currently identified needs,"

Rizal explained.

The archipelagic province, home to approximately 5.66 million people spread across major islands including Flores, Sumba, and the western part of Timor, presents significant transportation and logistics challenges under normal circumstances. The region's economy is primarily driven by agriculture, with most residents relying on subsistence dry field farming.

Coordinated government response

Rizal noted that Bulog began dispatching emergency aid before receiving formal requests from regional authorities to ensure evacuees in temporary shelters received immediate assistance. The Indonesian National Armed Forces deployed 1,267 personnel to support disaster response efforts, along with 89 vehicles, 21 field tents, and 120 cots. TNI also prepared Hercules aircraft and naval vessels for logistics and evacuation operations.

"The TNI and local authorities are coordinating closely, and aid distribution in NTT is proceeding as planned,"

Rizal said, emphasizing that adequate food stocks will help accelerate long-term recovery for affected residents.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency mobilized military airlifts and sea routes to deliver over 100 tons of emergency cargo to East Nusa Tenggara, with air operations running continuously from Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base since the day of the earthquake.

Bulog, established on May 10, 1967 and operating under Presidential Regulation No. 48 of 2016, serves as Indonesia's state-owned logistics corporation responsible for managing government food reserves and stabilizing food prices across the archipelago.