Prabowo Reviews Indonesia’s Response to Multiple Disasters

President Prabowo Subianto convened a virtual meeting at Merdeka Palace on Monday to review Indonesia’s response to several disasters unfolding at the same time. The agenda included the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Flores, forest and land fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan, and recent eruptions of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait.

“I just want to monitor the developments and hear the latest situation,” Prabowo said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta. He was accompanied by State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Cabinet Secretary Lt. Col. Teddy Indra Wijaya and Defense Ministry Logistics Agency Chief Air Marshal Yusuf Jauhari.

Prabowo said Indonesia was dealing simultaneously with the Flores earthquake, volcanic activity at Anak Krakatau, forest fires and haze. “This is our fate as a country located in the Ring of Fire,” he said.

The earthquake struck Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, on August 15. Data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, or BNPB, showed that at least 129 people had died by early September. The quake caused widespread damage and led to a prolonged emergency response.

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I just want to monitor the developments and hear the latest situation.

The fires created another large-scale challenge. BNPB recorded 73,310.89 hectares of burned land between August and September 2. The fires worsened air quality and produced haze in several areas.

Mount Anak Krakatau continued erupting from Friday through Sunday morning, September 4 to 6, according to the Geological Agency of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. The eruptions produced incandescent rock fragments and volcanic ash. Activity has continued since July 2, when the volcano’s alert status rose to Level III, or Alert.

Winds carried ash toward Greater Jakarta and surrounding areas, including Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. In response, the provincial governments of Jakarta, West Java and Banten introduced remote learning in some areas to reduce students’ and teachers’ exposure to volcanic ash.

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This is our fate as a country located in the Ring of Fire.