House Speaker calls for solemn Independence Day as NTT earthquake toll mounts

House Speaker calls for solemn Independence Day as NTT earthquake toll mounts

Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Puan Maharani called on citizens to mark the nation's 81st Independence Day with solemnity and modesty on Monday, as the country grappled with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara two days earlier.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit off the coast of Flores Island on August 15 at 5:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located approximately 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende at a depth of 10 kilometers. The disaster triggered small tsunamis at 16 locations across four Indonesian provinces, with waves reaching up to 1.61 meters in height.

"During this Independence Day commemoration, our people are in a state of deep concern over the recent earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara. Let us pray for the disaster victims and hope for a speedy recovery," Puan said in a statement.

More than 900 homes were destroyed and 450 more damaged across the province, forcing approximately 5,000 people into temporary shelters. The East Nusa Tenggara provincial government declared a 14-day emergency response period from August 15 to 28, formalized through Governor's Decree No. 305/KEP/HK/2026.

As of Monday, more than 1,576 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 1.9 to 6.2 had been recorded, compounding fears among residents and hampering relief efforts.

Justice and unity amid crisis

Puan, the first woman to serve as Speaker of Indonesia's House of Representatives since her election in 2019, emphasized that 81 years of independence should serve as a milestone for continuously strengthening national unity, safeguarding sovereignty, upholding justice, and promoting prosperity.

She highlighted this year's Independence Day theme of "Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia," saying it should provide momentum to raise the standard of national development for the welfare of all citizens.

"When all elements uphold the spirit of mutual cooperation and prioritize the interests of the nation over group interests, development will be able to provide significant and equitable benefits for all Indonesian people," she said.

Puan urged all Indonesians to maintain and strengthen national unity, stressing that this responsibility lies with every citizen, particularly state officials. She also called on the public to maintain harmony amid differences, emphasizing that diversity is not a threat to unity but rather a source of strength bound by a shared sense of belonging.

Government response mobilized

The Indonesian government has maintained an on-call disaster fund of Rp5 trillion (approximately USD 280.96 million) for emergency response nationwide, with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency also having approximately Rp500 billion ready for immediate use.

President Prabowo Subianto led the national Independence Day ceremony at Merdeka Palace, which included a moment of silence and prayers for communities affected by natural disasters, including victims of the NTT earthquake.

Puan attended the ceremony wearing a modern white kebaya and red traditional wrap, paired with a black NTT woven scarf. She sat to the right of President Prabowo, alongside People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Ahmad Muzani and Regional Representative Council Speaker Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin.

Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, with the archipelago located between the Eurasian, Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. In the past 10 years, 2,122 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from East Nusa Tenggara, averaging 212 earthquakes yearly.