Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has called for the establishment of a comprehensive disaster mitigation master plan, noting that the archipelago’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it highly susceptible to natural hazards.
He emphasized that Indonesia’s geographical conditions necessitate significant improvements in the government’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
“This is our fate as a country situated on the Ring of Fire, compelling us to remain prepared for such situations at all times,” Prabowo said during a virtual cabinet meeting on disaster management held from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
He noted that the government is currently managing several ongoing crises, including post-earthquake rehabilitation in Flores Island, heightened volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau, and persistent forest and land fires across the country.
The president subsequently instructed his cabinet and relevant officials to preposition disaster management resources and equipment well before incidents occur.
Additionally, the government plans to increase the use of aircraft for weather modification operations and explore the deployment of heavy-lift drones for aerial firefighting.
“We are preparing for mitigation; we must not wait for incidents to happen. We must prepare long beforehand,” he stated.
To support these initiatives, Prabowo said that his administration will scale up the budget allocation for disaster mitigation. He also ordered the procurement of additional helicopters, water pumps, fire engines, and small excavators tailored for rural areas prone to forest fires.
During the meeting, the President also requested comprehensive progress reports on the ongoing disaster response efforts in Flores Island, at Mount Anak Krakatau, and in fire-affected regions from both local governments as well as relevant ministries and national agencies.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Uyu Liman
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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