Central Java is the most disaster-prone region in Indonesia. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded 397 disasters in the province from January to September 2016. Other heavily affected areas on Java Island include West Java and East Java. Flooding is the most frequent disaster in Indonesia.
Improperly managed river basins (DAS) are a contributing factor to frequent flooding. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry notes that of approximately 17,000 river basins in Indonesia, 108 are in critical condition. The Director General of River Basin Management and Protected Forests at the Ministry, Hilman Nugroho, stated that the critical condition of these river basins is due to the increasing population each year, with people even clearing land in upstream areas.
Raising public awareness of disasters is a priority for BNPB. BNPB Head Willem Rampangilei stated that disaster risk mitigation cannot be left solely to the government; all stakeholders, including the community, must participate.
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