NTT Earthquake Victims Block Road over Lack of Aid
Dozens of residents in Ladur and Riung villages, NTT, blocked a highway on Wednesday to protest the lack of earthquake aid.
Residents in Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), blocked the Reo-Ruteng highway with a banner demanding aid for Ladur and Riung Villages, which officials have overlooked, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Dozens of villagers blocked the road to stop the transport of basic food aid from Ruteng to Reo after receiving no assistance from local or central authorities since the earthquake struck NTT on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Hironimus Yance, a community representative, expressed frustration on the scene, saying, "We feel like we've been treated like stepchildren." The evacuation center in Reo is about 27 kilometers away, a 15-minute drive from Ladur Village. Government officials had not inspected the villagers' condition five days after the earthquake devastated NTT. However, the community is in dire need of basic foodstuffs and medical supplies, as numerous homes have suffered structural damage, and economic activity has come to a halt.
As of Wednesday, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported 71 deaths, 1,182 injuries, and the displacement of 40,040 residents across the region. President Prabowo Subianto has yet to visit NTT, but State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi confirmed the President's intention to travel to the affected area, assuring that the government has fully mobilized relief operations.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
