Indonesia Boosts Disaster Mitigation Funding Amidst Frequent Calamities

Amidst a series of natural disasters striking Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto intends to allocate a larger budget to the disaster mitigation sector. He stated this during a limited virtual meeting on natural disaster management held on Monday (7/9). "For the government I lead, we must significantly increase the budget allocation for disaster mitigation," Prabowo said in his directive. Prabowo explained that the string of natural disasters in Indonesia is a geographical consequence of its location on the Ring of Fire. He further stated that this geographical consequence necessitates the government to be prepared for such situations at all times. "Earthquakes in Flores, then the current activity of Mount Anak Krakatau, as well as forest fires and the smoke that remains a problem for all of us," Prabowo noted. Prabowo mentioned that the government's response to natural disasters has improved considerably, with responses being much faster and more massive today. He also expressed his gratitude to all involved parties. Indonesia has recently been hit by a series of natural disasters, most recently due to the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. The status of Mount Anak Krakatau was recently elevated. Since July 2, 2026, at 16:30 WIB, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) declared Mount Anak Krakatau at Alert Level III (Siaga). The activity of Mount Anak Krakatau escalated on Friday (4/9) at 23:07 WIB, with lava flows observed in the Sunda Strait. Ashfall also reached areas such as Lampung, Banten, DKI Jakarta, and West Java. This activity has also impacted flight paths in the affected regions, leading to temporary closures for both international and domestic flights.