Experts prepare for future disasters

Experts prepare for future disasters

YOGYAKARTA: Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 1994
eruption of Mt. Merapi that claimed 63 lives, the office in
Sleman dealing with irrigation, mining and disasters held a
discussion earlier this week on how to respond to future
eruptions.

Officially opened by Sleman Regent Ibnu Subiyanto, the
discussion included witnesses to the 1994 disaster and experts
and academics from related government and non-government
institutions.

Some 75 participants participated in the discussion,
whose objective was to evaluate past disasters, especially the
1994 eruption, in a bid to improve the management and handling of
similar occurrences in the future.

"Through this evaluation, hopefully both the government and
experts concerned will be able to come up with the best solution
so that unnecessary fatalities can be avoided in the future if
Mt. Merapi erupts," the head of Sleman's irrigation, mining and
disaster office said. -- JP