Indonesian president prays for quake victims on Indonesia's 81st Independence Day
12:53, 17/08/2026, Monday
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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto led prayers for the victims of a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that killed at least 53 people in East Nusa Tenggara, asking the nation to remember the dead during the 81st Independence Day ceremonies at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday prayed for earthquake victims during 81st Independence Day ceremonies at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, leading a moment of silence for the 53 people killed in the weekend disaster.
Ceremony
The president offered prayers for those affected by disasters in Sumatra and East Nusa Tenggara before the official commemoration, Kompas TV reported. Addressing dignitaries gathered at the palace, Prabowo called on the nation to honor independence heroes alongside the recent disaster victims.
"Let us observe a moment of silence to remember the souls and services of the heroes of our nation's independence who sacrificed their lives and bodies for the independence and honor of the Indonesian nation," he said. The magnitude 7.7 tremor struck the eastern province over the weekend, killing 53 and injuring 135, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).
Damage Assessment
The agency reported Sunday that 154 houses were damaged in the tremor, according to Okezone news website. Search operations were continuing in affected areas as officials assessed the full scale of the destruction.
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