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More disaster drills needed, says BNPB
The government needs to conduct more disaster drills to better prepare residents living in disaster-prone areas, says an official at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)
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he government needs to conduct more disaster drills to better prepare residents living in disaster-prone areas, says an official at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that based on BNPB assessment, disaster awareness in Indonesia had improved, but people failed to take precautionary measures.
Consequently, in the event of a disaster, they panic. Compared to Japan, Sutopo said, disaster drills were rare in Indonesia.
'Whereas in fact, based on a study, US$1 used for exercises could reduce damage at between $7 and $40. By just investing $1, you can reduce damages of more than $100,' Sutopo said.
He added that Indonesia had become quite advanced with its disaster mitigation system, as it is was now equipped with laws and a learning system funded by foreign aid management during Aceh tsunami in 2004 and earthquakes in Yogyakarta and Padang.
Sutopo was speaking during the recent 2014 Mentawai Megathrust Direx exercise event, which was held on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. The event was aimed at preparing a master plan to strengthen coordination, collaboration and international communication in handling earthquakes and tsunamis.
On Friday, The BNPB held a tsunami and earthquake drill on Purus Beach, Padang. As many as 2,649 people were involved in the event, 1,617 of them were Indonesian Military (TNI) members. The simulation began with a 8.9-magnitude quake in which residents of various ages fleed the beach.
Cargo planes flew over the location, followed by six helicopters, the KRI Suharso hospital ship, patrol boats, rubber dinghies, trucks, buses and ambulances. Rescuers displayed rescue and relief aid transport methods.
The BNPB, Sutopo said, was equipped with a program on disaster reduction in regions prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. The regions are mainly located along the western coast of Sumatra, and the southern coasts of Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara.
'They include evacuation routes, an early warning system, shelter provision, community preparedness and encouraging growth of the disaster relief supply industry, as almost 70 percent of disaster equipment [in Indonesia] is currently imported,' said Sutopo.
