“The Polri remains committed to being at the forefront in ensuring protection and providing services for the people’s safety,” he stated while leading a roll call to strengthen the police’s disaster mitigation capacity.
Speaking at the Polri Mobile Brigade Headquarters in Depok City, West Java, on Wednesday, General Prabowo cited data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), which recorded 2,606 natural disasters across Indonesia as of October 19 this year.
He detailed that the disasters included 1,289 floods, 544 extreme weather events, 511 forest and land fire cases, 189 landslides, 22 significant earthquakes, and four series of major volcanic eruptions.
According to him, these disasters have claimed 361 lives, injured 615 people, left 37 missing, and displaced 5.2 million residents, while damaging 887 public facilities and offices.
The general then emphasized that such destructive events have not only caused fatalities and economic losses but also psychological trauma and social disruption.
He further cautioned the public and government agencies to prepare for potential disasters, as the rainy season has begun in 43.8 percent of Indonesia’s territory, based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
He added that the season, expected to peak in January 2026, could bring heavier rainfall, ultimately increasing the risk of hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides.
The BMKG, he continued, has also forecast the onset of La Niña—a global phenomenon defined by the cooling of sea surface temperatures—to begin in early November and persist through February next year.
With these conditions in mind, Prabowo stressed the importance of speed, accuracy, and coordination among all institutions and communities in mitigating disaster impacts.
“Integrated synergy and collaboration are crucial for us to maximize disaster mitigation efforts,” he affirmed.
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Translator: Nadia P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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