Maluku Police boost readiness for volcanic disruptions

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2 hours ago

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA) – Maluku Police are strengthening preparedness for potential disruptions to transportation and logistics caused by volcanic activity in the province, an archipelago where interruptions could quickly affect communities.

Maluku Deputy Police Chief Brig. Gen. Arif Budiman said at an interagency coordination meeting in Ambon on Wednesday, September 9, that disruptions to air and sea transport could have widespread impacts.

“For an archipelago like Maluku, disruptions to air and sea transport can significantly affect public mobility and essential supplies. We must prepare mitigation measures early rather than wait for the situation to worsen,” he said.

To prepare, Maluku Police and stakeholders are strengthening early-warning and communication systems, developing transport contingency plans, ensuring healthcare readiness, checking personnel and support equipment, and improving interagency coordination.

The coordination meeting involved the military, regional government, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Basarnas, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), transportation and health agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.

The deputy police chief stressed that all mitigation measures must be based on information and data from authorized technical agencies.

“Successful response efforts cannot be determined by one institution. All elements must work together,” he said.

Maluku Police Operations Bureau Chief Senior Commissioner Monang M.Z. Simanjuntak said personnel, support equipment, communication channels and interagency coordination should be regularly evaluated for rapid, measured responses.

“Personnel readiness, support equipment, communication channels and interagency coordination must be continuously evaluated. Every potential situation must be addressed using accurate data and information,” he said.