IAGI: Determining the Cause of the Flood Disaster Must Be Scientific Before Convicting Certain Parties 

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Association of Geologists (IAGI) considers that determining the causes of flooding in a number of regions in Indonesia must be carried out through a transparent scientific approach before the public and the government conclude or convict certain parties as the cause.

The Chairman of the IAGI STJ Budi Santoso said that scientifically it was not appropriate if the cause of the flood was immediately directed to certain parties without thorough study. Floods cannot be simplified into a single factor, every disaster event needs to be analyzed from the beginning based on the material conditions of the region.

"The approach is indeed multidisciplinary. Geological, hydrological, climatic factors, as well as human activities must be reviewed one by one. We are not talking about who, but looking at the problem objectively so that the mitigation and corrective steps taken are targeted. The diagnosis must be accurate so that the medicine given is appropriate," he told reporters, Wednesday, January 28.

Budi added that the geological conditions of an area have different carrying capacities, so it needs to be the main reference in assessing vulnerability and disaster risk.

"We need to look at the cases. There are areas where the upper part is well maintained, human activities are not many, the trees are still good, but flash floods still occur. Things like that need to be looked at objectively," he said.

He said that current technology allows for more measurable analysis, including using satellite imagery to see the condition of the area in a certain time frame before the incident.

According to him, the study is not only to explain the incident, but also to strengthen prevention.

"This is not just things related to the past, but more on how we anticipate that in the future it will not happen again. Even if it happens, we already have anticipatory or mitigating steps," he said.

IAGI assessed that the conclusion of the cause of the disaster which was not supported by the scientific process was at risk of producing corrective steps that were wrong and did not touch the root of the problem.

"The last thing we want is a corrective step that does not match the root of the problem. That would be misleading. The simple analogy is, the medicine given is not in accordance with the diagnosis," said Budi.

In the context of policy strengthening, IAGI encourages that geoscience-based analysis be used as the main basis in disaster, spatial planning, and land use.

"We encourage the existence of regulations at the level of laws, namely the geological law or the land law, so that the load is strong enough and the rules below it must refer to it," he said.

Budi said that the results of the geoscience discussion and forum held by IAGI on January 26 will also be followed up with a policy brief containing recommendations to stakeholders.

"In essence, geoscience-based analysis of the actual conditions in the field, especially the geological aspect, must be the main basis for seeing disasters, spatial planning, and the use of the area," he concluded.