BNPB: 40.9 Million People Live in Areas Prone to Landslide

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated that there are areas prone to landslides in Indonesia, from Bukit Barisan in Sumatra, central and southern Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku, to Papua.

The Head of Data Center, Information and Public Relations of BNPB Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated that there were 274 regencies and cities in the prone to landslide area with a moderate to high category.

“The number of people prone to the danger of landslide reached 40.9 million,” Sutopo said in his office on Wednesday, January 2.

Millions of people, according to Sutopo, should not live in areas prone to landslides. The government should not give permission to live in the area.

Read also: Sukabumi Landslide, 20 Victims Have Yet to be Found

For this reason, Sutopo hopes that the regional administration will improve the spatial layout in its territory.

“If it continues to be allowed, landslides will become a time bomb that always occurs during the rainy season,” he said.

Sutopo said that the regional administration could regulate the spatial plan related to landslides by referring to the report of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG). The report shows in detail the areas prone to landslide to the sub-district level.

The public can also access the report. Sutopo said the data was uploaded on the website www.vsi.esdm.go.id.

VINDRY FLORENTIN