TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - East Java province faces 13 types of disasters which include earthquake, flood, tsunami, landslide, drought, tornado, fire, terror and mount eruption. "The potential disasters are recorded in risk assessment," said East Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Sudarmawan on Thursday.
In order to prevent risk and loss due to natural disasters, East Java BPBD has carried out series of actions such as preparedness before disaster such as disaster mitigation, prevention, standby plan and warning.
Actions during emergency response include emergency response operation, operation plan and emergency assessment, while actions after disaster are rehabilitation, reconstruction and rebuilding.
East Java BPBD was considered successful in handling Mount Kelud eruption that hits Malang, Blitar and Kediri in February 2014 as they were quick in evacuating residents, reducing victims and material losses. "Several countries learn disaster mitigation from Kelud," he said.
Thousands of volunteers were dispatched to carry out rehabilitation efforts after Mount Kelud eruption. The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center's data shows Mount Kelud as an active volcano. The 1586 eruption killed 10,000 people, while the 1919 eruption killed 5,115 people.
EKO WIDIANTO
