ITS to have disaster study center

SURABAYA: The Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS) is planning to build a center for natural disaster study, an official says.

Spokesman for the institute Suharmadi said on Thursday construction of the center would start soon, to coincide with an international seminar on disaster prevention.

"Experts from the Netherlands, Germany, Japan and Malaysia will speak on the measures to contain the damage resulting from flooding, earthquakes, landslides and other disasters," he said.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla is expected to open the seminar.

He noted the study center came to the fore due to ITS' concern over damage and casualties caused by natural disasters.

The seminar is cohosted by the National Coordinating Board for the Prevention of Disasters. -- Antara