The Head of BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency), Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto, has issued a directive for local governments in regions affected by the recent earthquake disaster in North Sulawesi and North Maluku. He emphasized the critical need for these administrations to conduct immediate and comprehensive assessments of their respective territories.
“The first key point is for the local governments themselves to carry out the assessments and observe conditions in their areas,” Suharyanto stated during a press briefing at the BNPB office in East Jakarta on Thursday (2/4).
This urgent call for assessment, Suharyanto elaborated, is crucial for determining and establishing the appropriate emergency response status. He clarified that if local authorities find the impact of the disaster to be beyond their capacity to manage, they are empowered to directly declare such a status.
“If the Regional Head and the local Forkopimda (Regional Leadership Coordination Forum) estimate that the situation cannot be managed at the regency or city level, then they should immediately establish an emergency status,” Suharyanto affirmed.
Suharyanto further explained that should two or more regencies or cities declare an emergency response status, the provincial government then has the authority to declare a province-wide emergency. This tiered approach ensures that resources and coordination can be scaled up effectively based on the severity and spread of the disaster’s impact.
Despite these local declarations, Suharyanto reassured affected regions that the central government stands ready to provide unwavering support, regardless of the determined status. He committed to assisting these areas to the fullest extent possible, reiterating the President’s firm instruction on the matter.
“We, the central government, have received direct orders from the President, as the safety of the people is the top priority. Whether an area declares an emergency status or not, we will still come to provide assistance,” Suharyanto stressed, highlighting the commitment to citizen well-being.
He also noted that local governments are continuously providing updates and emphasized that managing disasters is an inherently challenging task. Suharyanto openly acknowledged that declaring an emergency response status does not reflect negatively on a regional leader’s capability. “We have also appealed that an emergency response status has no bearing on a Regional Head’s leadership ability, because disaster management is difficult. No matter how great a leader is, they cannot overcome a disaster alone,” he concluded.
The earthquake has notably impacted three areas in North Sulawesi: Manado City, Bitung City, and Minahasa Regency. In North Maluku, Ternate City has been affected, specifically in the districts of Pulau Batang and South Ternate.
Summary
The Head of BNPB, Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto, has directed local governments in North Sulawesi and North Maluku to immediately assess the impact of the recent earthquake disaster. This assessment is crucial for determining and establishing an appropriate emergency response status, allowing regional heads to declare an emergency if the situation exceeds local management capacity.
Should multiple regencies or cities declare an emergency, the provincial government holds the authority to declare a province-wide emergency. The central government, through BNPB, assures full support to affected regions regardless of their declared status, prioritizing citizen safety. Affected areas include Manado, Bitung, and Minahasa in North Sulawesi, and Ternate City (Pulau Batang, South Ternate) in North Maluku.