Caritas Indonesia, in partnership with Caritas-PSE in the Dioceses of Larantuka and Maumere, has launched a coordinated relief effort following Mount Lewotobi’s recent eruption in East Flores.
The joint humanitarian response aimed to streamline aid distribution and task management, enabling rapid and efficient support for survivors, according to MIRIFICA News, the official news service of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference.
The eruption, which occurred on Nov. 3, has left seven villages in Wulanggitang and Ile Bura districts devastated.
Although the eruption column was not visible, seismographs registered a significant tremor with an amplitude of 47.3 mm lasting for 1450 seconds.
Authorities have reported that 10 people have lost their lives, and approximately 10,295 residents have been affected, with numbers expected to rise.
The East Flores regency declared a state of emergency on Nov. 4, initiating a 58-day response period lasting until the end of the year.
Caritas Indonesia has set an Impact Scale Level III (Orange) for the disaster, in alignment with its emergency response protocols.
To centralize aid efforts, Caritas has established two main posts in the affected regions:
1. Caritas Larantuka Response Post (Carila) – Located at Inspiration Cottage, Jl. Trans Larantuka Maumere, Konga Village, Titehena District, within the Lewolaga Parish.
2. Caritas Maumere Post – Based at the Maumere Diocese Pastoral Center on Jl. Mgr. Soegiyopranoto, Uneng City, Maumere, Flores, NTT.
These posts will serve as operational hubs for aid coordination, task allocation, and public services for survivors.
For the next two weeks, Caritas Indonesia said it will prioritize meeting the basic needs of the affected residents.
It said that this decisive and unified approach is expected to provide immediate relief while authorities assess long-term needs.
