Prabowo Leads Emergency Meeting on Forest Fires and Volcanic Eruptions

President Prabowo Subianto led a limited cabinet meeting (ratas) to discuss the handling of several disasters in Indonesia. Prabowo received reports from cabinet members and regional governments, emphasizing the priority of ensuring public safety and directing swift and precise responses. The President chaired the hybrid meeting from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday (7/9/2026). Cabinet members and regional heads joined the meeting via teleconference. "I just want to monitor the progress and hear the latest situation," said Prabowo. At the Merdeka Palace, Prabowo was accompanied by Mensesneg Prasetyo Hadi, Seskab Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Kemhan Logistics Chief Marsdya TNI Yusuf Jauhari. Prabowo acknowledged that it is Indonesia's destiny to be frequently hit by disasters due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. However, he stated that disaster management must be carried out quickly and accurately, with the safety of the community as the top priority. "We face various situations due to disasters, an earthquake in Flores, then the current activity of Mount Anak Krakatau, and also forest fires and smoke which remain a problem for all of us," he added. Indonesia, due to its geographical location, is at high risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and forest fires. In particular, the eruption of Mount Krakatau could scatter volcanic ash to surrounding areas, potentially affecting air travel. Furthermore, forest fires cause air pollution, leading to health impacts and economic losses. In this context, the President taking the lead is considered to demonstrate the government's crisis management capabilities and to provide reassurance to the public.