"The number of disaster victims can be reduced by adopting the culture for disaster mitigation," he stated while delivering a speech at the meeting.
He shared experience on dealing with the victims of the earthquake and tsunami disasters in Banda Aceh and Simeuleu Island in Aceh province in 2004.
There were hundreds of thousands of casualties in Banda Aceh and a dozen in Simeuleu Island.
He revealed that Simeuleu Island had held a disaster and tsunami response education, whereas the community in Banda Aceh was less educated.
Through the education, the community can immediately know and anticipate the signs of disaster by running away from the coastline and gathering on higher ground.
Meanwhile, Rector of Andalas University, Prof. Tafdil Husni, stated that Kalla`s participation at the meeting would motivate participants to cope up with disasters.
The opening of the 5th Scientific Meeting of Disaster Research was also attended by ministers from Ministry of Public Works and People`s Housing and Ministry of Communication and Informatics, head of National Disaster and Mitigation Agency, head of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, top officials of West Sumatra provincial government, and university leaders in the province.
Reported by M R Denya Utama
(M052/INE)
(T.M052/B/KR-BSR/B/H-YH)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
