BNPB Sends Team To Help Handling Earthquake In South Nias

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) will immediately send a team to assist in handling the impact of the earthquake that occurred on Monday morning in the South Nias Regency, North Sumatra Province.

"Today, BNPB will also immediately send a team there to find out for sure regarding the impact of this earthquake", said BNPB Head, Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, in a press conference which was followed by daring from Jakarta, Monday 14 March.

"Our priority is the safety of the community, this safety is the top priority", he added.

He explained that the BNPB team would record earthquake victims and infrastructure damaged by the earthquake and help local governments deal with the impact of the earthquake.

"We ensure that the state, the central government, will attend at the first opportunity and ensure that the basic needs of the people for this can be met", he said.

Suharyanto appealed to residents not to panic during an earthquake. He stressed the importance of residents evacuating independently when the earthquake occurred.

"Because based on previous earthquake experiences, the occurrence of these victims is not due to the earthquake itself, but the result of the collapsed building hitting the community or the people who are active in it", he said.

He also stated the need for residents to prepare personal provisions in the form of food, medicine, communication tools, and other safety equipment that can be used in case of a disaster.

In addition, according to him, community groups can appoint a trusted person to lead the evacuation to a place that is considered safe in the event of a disaster.