Learning from NTT Earthquakes: Challenges in Promoting Earthquake-Resistant Homes

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province in Indonesia has tragically resulted in the collapse of numerous homes, highlighting concerns about seismic resistance in the region. Gonsales Lorang, a resident of Mekendetung Village in Sikka Regency, recounted how his brick house, built over two years of hard labor, turned into rubble in mere seconds during the August 15, 2026 earthquake. "I was already in the yard when the building collapsed. If I had been even a moment later, I would have been hit by the debris," said Lorang, who worked as a plantation laborer in Kalimantan for two years to build his zinc-roofed brick house. In an instant, the results of his hard work were reduced to dust, unable to withstand the 7.7 magnitude tremor. Several other houses in his village suffered similar fates. Lorang expressed confusion, noting that his village is located far in the mountains, yet many houses in Maumere town were almost entirely intact. This disparity suggests differences in housing structures and construction standards across the area. According to data from Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of August 30, a total of 95,567 houses were affected across seven regencies on Flores Island. Of these, 46,161 sustained minor damage, 21,992 moderate damage, and 27,414 severe damage. The earthquake also caused 111 deaths, 1,631 injuries (223 severe, 1,408 minor), and displaced 188,161 people. A resident gazes at his earthquake-damaged home. Photo: Ebed de Rosary/Mongabay Indonesia. Systemic Weaknesses Norman Riwu Kaho, Chairperson of the NTT Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (FPRB), stated that current priorities focus on providing basic needs like clean water, food, temporary shelters, and sanitation to affected residents. Other critical tasks include health services, protection for vulnerable groups, reopening severed road access, and creating an accurate registry of survivors based on name and address. He also mentioned that almost 9...