Citizen Collaboration and Emergency Services Safeguard Surabaya
Surabaya (ANTARA) — The safety of a city does not depend solely on government, but also on the commitment of its residents.
A large city like Surabaya operates at a rapid pace, with high mobility and dense residential areas creating constant potential for emergencies. In such circumstances, the speed of response becomes a critical factor in minimising potential damage.
Since 2016, the Surabaya City Government has developed an integrated emergency response system through the “Command Center 112” service. This system enables residents to report various emergencies quickly, which are then acted upon by relevant agencies within the Surabaya City Government. These agencies include the Fire and Rescue Service, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), medical teams, security personnel, and other agencies with authority in emergency response.
The success of this system is not determined solely by government readiness and the technology used. In practice, the role of residents becomes essential to ensure the system operates effectively. Reports from the community often serve as the starting point that allows officials to respond quickly before situations escalate further.
Recent incidents in Surabaya have demonstrated how citizen participation becomes an important factor in emergency response. On Tuesday, 10 March, a ten-year-old boy was reported drowned in a reservoir behind the village office in the Sambikerep area. The report was received at approximately 12:25 WIB, and the emergency response team arrived at the location six minutes later to conduct a search. Personnel from the Surabaya City BPBD, along with related units, immediately began manual diving operations at the scene. After the search, the victim was found at the bottom of the reservoir approximately three metres from the initial drowning point. The team evacuated the victim before police identification procedures were conducted. The body was then transported to the Dr Soetomo Hospital mortuary by PMI ambulance, accompanied by family members.
Another incident occurred on Sunday, 8 March 2026, when a fire broke out in a two-storey house on Rembang Street, Dupak Village, Krembangan District. The report from residents was received at 13:41 WIB. Just five minutes later, firefighting personnel had arrived at the location to respond. The fire, suspected to have originated from an electrical short circuit whilst charging a mobile phone, was extinguished at 14:03 WIB and declared fully safe around 14:24 WIB. This incident illustrates how rapid information from residents became crucial in preventing the fire from spreading. Given that the building’s structure had wooden floors, the potential for fire to spread was quite high. Because the report was received early, personnel were able to immediately extinguish the flames before they reached other buildings.
A fire also occurred the day before in Bumiarjo Street Gang V, Wonokromo District. The semi-permanent house that caught fire was suspected to have suffered an electrical short circuit in the kitchen area. The resident report was received at 11:59 WIB, and the firefighting unit arrived at the location approximately four minutes later. Although the alley was extremely narrow, requiring the fire truck to stop about 200 metres from the incident site, coordination between personnel and surrounding residents made the extinguishing process proceed quickly.
Another case illustrated how community reports assist in handling emergency situations beyond fires. On 26 February 2026, a resident in the Tembok Dukuh area was struck by a collapsed water tank inside their bathroom. The tank support, which was suspected to be deteriorated, could not withstand the weight of the water and eventually collapsed, hitting the victim. The resident’s report prompted the rescue team to immediately arrive at the location for evacuation, before the victim was referred to hospital.
Another example occurred on 2 March 2026 in a high-rise building in the Pakuwon Indah area. Two workers were trapped in a construction lift on the 26th floor when severe weather struck, which became widely discussed by netizens on social media. Strong winds and rain prevented the lift from descending and even caused it to sway at height. Rapid information enabled the rescue team to arrive and coordinate evacuation efforts. The rescue operation lasted quite some time before the victims were finally handled, although one worker reportedly died after being ejected from the lift.
Additionally, community reports have also assisted personnel in anticipating other potential hazards in residential areas.