RI prone to natural disasters

BANJARMASIN: Indonesia is highly prone to natural disaster as it lies astride three of the world's main tectonic areas, says the deputy of the National Disaster Management Coordinating Board (Bakornas), Tabrani.

The country's relatively high rainfall also frequently led to flooding and erosion that could cause environmental damage, as well as death and injury to human beings, he said here on Tuesday.

Another factor was the often long dry season, which could prevent farmers from planting crops and thus result in less food being produced. The long dry seasons also resulted in a lack of water and increased fire hazards, he said.

One way to avoid the resulting problems, he said, was to keep Indonesia's forests green. --Antara