Indonesia on the Ring of Fire: House Speaker Urges Government for Integrated Disaster Mitigation and Anticipation

Indonesia, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is a region with the world's highest seismic and volcanic activity. In light of this geographical reality, Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani has strongly urged the government to enhance its integrated disaster mitigation and anticipation strategies. Speaking to reporters at the parliament complex on Tuesday, September 8, Puan stated, "Indonesia is on the Ring of Fire. Therefore, from time to time, from year to year, the Government has carried out mitigation and anticipation to do all things related to this, the anticipation is integrated." While acknowledging that predicting the exact timing and duration of natural events is impossible, she stressed the importance of preparedness for the worst-case scenarios. Recently, increased activity from Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait has caused volcanic ash to spread to several areas, including Lampung, Banten, Jakarta, and West Java, leading to reduced visibility and disruptions to flights. Furthermore, within a single week, five volcanoes in Indonesia erupted: Anak Krakatau, Semeru in East Java, Ili Lewotolok in NTT, Mount Ibu in Maluku, and Sinabung in North Sumatra, highlighting the heightened activity across the Ring of Fire. Puan emphasized the necessity for the government to bolster disaster preparedness measures in response to the surge in volcanic activity. This, she noted, is an essential step to minimize future risks and reduce casualties. "Public safety must be the top priority, so all policies and actions taken need to be directed there," she asserted. Moreover, Puan encouraged unified leadership in disaster response among ministries, institutions, and local governments. This, she explained, is part of building national readiness for disasters, identifying areas that require strengthening and more anticipatory measures. Additionally, Puan called on the government to establish protection guarantees applicable in all disaster-prone areas. These should include timely disaster warnings, swift evacuation to safe locations, availability of basic necessities, continuity of health and education services, and livelihood support for families who lose their income. "And of course, openness of information and education to the public must also be encouraged as a step to prevent unverified information from causing panic," she concluded. Source: VOI English