SBY: Indonesia Prone to Disasters

Medan, Indonesia (News Today) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said Indonesia is prone to natural disasters due to its geological and geographic location.

"Indonesia is indeed vulnerable in geological and geographical terms," President Yudhoyono said upon his arrival at Medan airport here Monday before proceeding to Tanah Karo district to visit evacuees from the Mount Sinabung eruption.

According to the head of state, in general the world is facing serious problems due to the impacts of climate change which leads to global warming. The natural conditions have triggered more frequent disasters, sometimes extreme ones, such as tectonic earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

Climate change had also triggered massive floods such as those in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nigeria. In the case of Indonesia, the situation was worsened by the country’s geological and geographic locations which are prone to disasters.

The president asked concerned ministers to do assessment on the country’s geological and geographic conditions. Moreover, Indonesia is flanked by three tectonic crusts which could boost the volcanic activities in Indonesia. The assessment is necessary to anticipate natural disasters and prepare the people to face the disasters.

"Preparations are important because we know that disasters might come, but we don’t know when," the president said.

President Yudhoyono and entourage arrived in Medan, North Sumatra, on Monday for a visit to the evacuation center of the victims of MT Sinabung which erupted last week in Tanah Karo district.

He was welcomed by North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin, Deputy Governor Gatot Pudjo Nugroho and Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri. Danuri arrived in Medan earlier. The president headed to the airbase hall to receive reports from the regional government officials on the handling of Mt Sinabung eruption.

Head of Volcanology Center Surono explained that MT Sinabung’s volcanic activities had increased in the last two days with 25 tectonic tremors on Saturday and 82 on Sunday. He said that the volcano also heaved up by 3.4 millimeters over the last two days.

Source : kompas

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