Indonesian Defense Minister Considers Integrating Geological Agency with BMKG

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo is reportedly considering the integration of the Geological Agency (Badan Geologi) with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) as part of efforts to enhance the nation's disaster preparedness capabilities. This move is believed to aim at strengthening the coordination between geological information and meteorological/geophysical information in Indonesia, a country prone to natural disasters, thereby enabling more prompt and effective responses. The integration of these two agencies is expected to improve the accuracy of predictions for earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, as well as facilitate smoother information sharing during disaster events. Indonesia is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an area characterized by frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Furthermore, influenced by its monsoon climate, the country also experiences frequent natural disasters such as floods and landslides. Under these circumstances, strengthening the disaster prevention and mitigation system is an urgent priority. Minister Prabowo appears to be exploring the possibility of enhancing collaboration between the Geological Agency, which falls under the Ministry of Defense, and BMKG, an independent agency. The specific form and timeline for integration are expected to be subject to further detailed consideration. Source: Sindonews