Indonesia Enhances Visual Communication to Make Disaster Risks More Visible

The Indonesian government has announced a policy to strengthen the utilization of visual communication, aiming to improve public awareness of disaster risks and enhance effective information dissemination. This initiative is particularly focused on helping every citizen more intuitively understand the potential threats of disasters and take prompt, appropriate evacuation actions, given that Indonesia is frequently hit by various natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and floods. Specifically, it is envisioned that dangerous areas during disasters, evacuation routes, and shelter locations will be clearly presented using visual means such as maps, illustrations, infographics, and videos. This is expected to facilitate the accurate transmission of information across a wider population, overcoming language barriers and differences in literacy. Indonesia is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, with numerous active volcanoes and faults, constantly posing high risks of earthquakes and volcanic activity. Furthermore, floods and landslides are also frequent due to the monsoon climate. In this context, there is an urgent need to introduce more practical and understandable information provision methods to eliminate the 'invisibility' of disaster risks and continuously raise public disaster preparedness. Strengthening visual communication is considered a crucial step in suppressing panic during disasters and minimizing damage. The government plans to advance this initiative by deepening cooperation with related agencies and leveraging the latest technologies.