August 16, 2026 | 06:55 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The European Union is ready to support Indonesia’s search-and-rescue efforts following a powerful earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, by deploying its Copernicus satellite system, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
“From solidarity to action, Europe is always ready to deploy Copernicus, our eyes in the sky, to support search and rescue efforts. Indonesia, we stand with you,” von der Leyen said in a post on X on Saturday.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of East Nusa Tenggara, a province in eastern Indonesia, on Friday night, August 14, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens of others, according to local rescue authorities.
Rescue teams are continuing to search for victims trapped under collapsed buildings, while landslides, damaged infrastructure and communication disruptions have complicated emergency operations.
The earthquake also triggered a small tsunami, with waves measuring less than 1 meter. Authorities briefly issued a tsunami warning following the quake before lifting it.
The European Commission said Copernicus could provide satellite-based data to support Indonesia’s response to the disaster.
Copernicus, the EU’s Earth observation program, can provide rapid satellite mapping of disaster-hit areas, helping authorities assess damage, identify affected locations and support search-and-rescue operations.
The offer comes as Indonesian authorities continue emergency response efforts in East Nusa Tenggara, where the earthquake caused damage and disrupted access to several affected areas.
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