According to risk analyses by BNPB, at least 5,744 villages in Indonesia are endangered by tsunami.
he National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has embarked on a mission to train and empower locals living along Java’s southern coast vis-à-vis risks posed by potential tsunami and other types of disaster.
The expedition, known in the local acronym as Destana, from desa tanggap bencana (resilient villages), is among the preventive programs initiated by the BNPB that started on July 11 with Banyuwangi in East Java as the first destination. The expedition, which targets 584 villages in 20 regencies deemed in danger to tsunami, is expected to finish on Aug. 16 in Serang, Banten.
According to the BNPB’s director of public empowerment, Lilik Kurniawan, the expedition team consists of 200 individuals, including officers from several relevant ministries and agencies, as well as scholars and volunteers.
“The expedition will check the preparedness [of locals and officials with the local administrations] in facing tsunami. [We will also check] evacuation routes, evacuation signposts and evacuation shelters,” Lilik said as quoted by Antara.
According to risk analyses by BNPB, at least 5,744 villages in Indonesia are at risk to tsunami.
Pangarso went on to say that the expedition is part of the government’s efforts to minimize losses and the number of victims in the case of tsunami.
“In the last 25 years, Java’s southern coast was hit by three different tsunamis: first in Banyuwangi, then in Pangandaran [West Java] 13 years ago and then one year ago in Pandeglang [Banten],” Pangarso said.
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