Chest-high mud lines on the walls of homes in Tongute Ternate Village stand as silent witnesses to the devastating flash floods that struck West Halmahera in January 2026.
Yet, amidst the lingering destruction, hope is beginning to bloom once more. Harita Nickel’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) and medical team arrived on the scene not just to deliver aid, but to offer their strength and their hearts to the affected residents. Through the Harita Nickel Peduli (Harita Nickel Cares) program, the company moved swiftly to answer this humanitarian call.
"Our presence is tangible proof that Harita Nickel is an integral part of the North Maluku community. We want to ensure that the residents' burden feels lighter through the company's direct support,” said Supriyanto Suwarno, Occupational Health and Safety Manager at Harita Nickel.
At the disaster site, watermarks chest-high on house walls stood as silent witnesses to the ordeal faced by the community. However, Harita Nickel team brought a wave of new hope.
Three ERT personnel jumped straight into action. battling the mud alongside residents. They worked tirelessly to clean places of worship, public facilities, and homes, ensuring they were habitable once again.
Simultaneously, Harita Nickel deployed a paramedic team to set up free health services at the Ibu District Health Center (Puskesmas). They treated survivors for various ailments, ranging from fever and skin rashes to physical exhaustion.
Delivering Essentials The support didn’t stop there. The company channeled essential supplies including food packages, mineral water, and urgent needs like sleeping mats through the West Halmahera Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD). According to gathered data, the floods have directly impacted 1,593 individuals across 497 families.
"We are grateful for the aid provided. These supplies will be immediately distributed to flood-impacted residents across seven districts," said Gunawan MT, Chief Executive of BPBD West Halmahera, upon receiving the symbolic handover.
The hard work of Harita's employees was deeply felt on the ground. Ibu District Head, Warjin Hi. Soleman, expressed his appreciation: "The health support and sleeping gear from Harita Nickel are crucial for maintaining the residents' stability during this emergency."
This aid provided strength to residents like Sukarni Siu, a survivor who had to struggle to evacuate her sick husband when the waters struck their home. For Harita Nickel, this effort is part of a continuous commitment to provide tangible benefits and serve as a beacon of optimism for the people of North Maluku.
