RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, urged Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD) to take command when disasters occur in their respective regions. The call comes as Indonesia remains among the countries with the highest disaster risk in the world.

Suharyanto delivered the message during the Senior Disaster Management Training for Regional Agencies executive heads from across Indonesia in Jakarta, on Monday, May 11, 2026. He said almost no region in Indonesia is completely free from disaster threats.

According to him, Indonesia ranks third among countries with the highest disaster risk and fourth among countries most exposed to disasters, based on World Bank data. “Indonesia is one of 35 countries with the highest potential disaster risk in the world. This is something we must fully understand,” Suharyanto said, quoted from official statement.

He explained that Indonesia is blessed with beautiful landscapes and abundant natural resources. However, behind those advantages lies the constant threat of disasters, ranging from earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, to forest and land fires.

Therefore, Suharyanto said Regional Agencies executive heads must be able to read situations quickly, make accurate decisions, and lead directly in the field. Regional Disaster Management Agencies, he stressed, should not merely wait for instructions, but must understand its role as the command holder in regional disaster management.

“Almost no area in Indonesia is truly safe. Kalimantan may be relatively safer from earthquakes and tsunamis, but forest and land fires remain an annual threat there,” he said.

A total of 67 participants joined the third batch of the Training program. They received training on disaster management covering the pre-disaster, emergency response, and post-disaster phases, with the aim of preparing them to lead the disaster response chain of command in their respective regions.

Suharyanto also underlined the importance of mitigation and preparedness. He said public awareness campaigns should never be treated as a minor task, as early warning systems will not be effective if communities do not understand danger signs or the steps they need to take to stay safe.

He cited the eruptions of Mount Dukono and Mount Marapi in 2023 as lessons. According to him, casualties often occur not only because of natural hazards, but also because safety warnings are ignored or not communicated strongly enough to the public.

During the emergency response phase, Suharyanto asked BPBD to immediately establish command posts and declare an emergency response status when disasters occur. He emphasized that such a declaration does not mean a region is incapable of handling the situation, but is part of an administrative mechanism that allows assistance from the central and regional governments to move quickly under Law No. 24 of 2007 on Disaster Management.

At the end of his briefing, the Head of BNPB called on Regional Agencies leaders to be courageous, confident, and communicative. “If a disaster occurs, you are the ones who should take command of disaster management, not others. Be present in the field and say: I am in command of disaster management,” he said.