Flores Quake: Surgeries Held in Emergency Tents, Health Minister Says

Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited Ruteng Regional Hospital in Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, after earthquake damage forced care—including surgery—into temporary emergency tents. Sadikin reviewed several victims, including 12-year-old Yosef, who suffered a broken femur when a neighbor’s house collapsed; the minister said he needed immediate surgery to avoid disability and enable future mobility. He confirmed orthopedic specialists were deployed to support the hospital, including staff from Dr. Soetomo Regional Hospital in Surabaya and personnel from other hospitals and educational institutions. The ministry is also building a field hospital with an operating room at Golo Dukal Stadium in Manggarai and preparing another at Nagekeo Regional Hospital. Health teams will conduct village-level surveys and coordinate referrals through Puskesmas centers.