Jakarta (VNA) - The head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Suharyanto, emphasised the importance of mitigation, preparedness, and disaster management efforts while addressing the 3rd International Conference on Disaster Mitigation and Management in Padang on September 29.
He noted that disasters are recurring events. Earthquakes in West Sumatra province experience a 50-100-year cycle.
He recalled the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Padang city, West Sumatra province on September 30, 2009, which caused 1,117 deaths and damaged approximately 300,000 homes.
On the other side of the cycle, he acknowledged that some scientists in West Sumatra have stated that the Mentawai Fault has the potential for sudden energy release or is ready to release.
According to the BNPB head, although science continues to advance, no one can predict with certainty when an earthquake will occur.
He stated that West Sumatra can learn from the experience of the 2009 earthquake disaster, noting that knowledge gained since then continues to develop and should be passed on to the current generation, especially regarding preparedness./.
Indonesia: School collapse leaves three dead, 38 missing
At least three students have been killed and dozens are missing following the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia’s East Java province.
