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