Jakarta (ANTARA) – House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani has called for disaster response handling in Indonesia to be placed under one unified leadership capable of aligning the steps of ministries, agencies, and regional governments.
“This is a step toward building national readiness in facing disasters, including in areas that need strengthening and more anticipatory measures,” Maharani said after a plenary session at the parliamentary complex here on Tuesday.
Maharani said Indonesia’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire requires integrated disaster mitigation and anticipation efforts.
According to her, unified leadership in disaster handling is needed to strengthen national readiness in facing various disaster threats.
She also urged the government to ensure standardized protection for communities across all disaster-prone regions.
Such protection, she said, includes the timeliness of early warnings, the speed of evacuating residents to safe locations, the availability of basic needs, and guaranteed access to health and education services.
“As well as ensuring families who have lost their income receive a safety net,” she said.
Besides government readiness, Maharani said the public needs continued education on disaster mitigation, as well as the ability to verify information to prevent panic.
According to her, mitigation education is needed to minimize the risk of casualties when disasters occur.
“Public safety must be the top priority, so all policies and actions taken need to be directed toward that goal,” she said.
Maharani’s remarks came amid rising activity at several volcanoes across Indonesia in recent times.
The eruption of Mt. Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait caused volcanic ash to spread across parts of Java and Sumatra, disrupting flight operations.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded that the spread of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau had temporarily led to the closure of eight airports.
On Tuesday (September 8), several previously affected airports began resuming operations after verification showed the airspace and runway areas were free of volcanic ash material.
Anak Krakatau is not the only volcano that has been active recently; several others across Indonesia have also erupted or shown increased volcanic activity, including Mount Semeru in East Java, Mounts Ili Lewotolok and Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Nusa Tenggara, Mount Ibu in North Maluku, and Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra.
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Translator: Bagus, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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