TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is strengthening its tsunami mitigation capacity in the southern region of Java. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is holding the 'Sapa Desa Tangguh Bencana' (Greetings to Disaster Resistant Villages) campaign, or Sapa Destana, in villages prone to disasters.

BNPB said in a press release received in Jakarta, Monday, November 29, that its Directorate of Preparedness is mobilizing its pentahelix element, which covers the government, businessmen, academics, media, and communities, to raise disaster preparedness through Sapa Destana.

Sapa Destana is an effort to refresh knowledge of tsunami disaster mitigation with in Disaster Resistant Villages (Destana).

Efforts are being made so these villages have good access and ability to respond to information, as well as having the ability to react well before and after disasters strike.

One of the ways to strengthen mitigation strengthening through Sapa Destana was the planting of 2,000 mangrove seedlings on November 28 in Kembang Village, Pacitan Regency, East Java.

"Tsunami is one of the disasters that must be watched out for in southern Java. It is necessary to prep coastal communities to face the potentials for a tsunami," said Budi Sentosa, acting head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency of East Java, delivering a message from East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

Budi said that the people are expected to know the signs of a tsunami and how to evacuate, "as well as to get involved directly in order to reduce the impact of the tsunami."

Read: BNPB Conducts Mangrove Planting for Tsunami Mitigation in East Java

ANTARA