JAKARTA: The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), together with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (PVMBG), is designing a community-based Early Warning System (EWS) for flash floods in West Sumatra.

According to the state news agency (ANTARA), the early warning system follows President Joko Widodo’s directive to accelerate emergency handling of the cold lava floods that recently hit West Sumatra.

Various evaluations were carried out to develop an effective early warning system design for potential cold lava floods based on the experience of the disaster that occurred on 11th May.

To prevent the recurrence of cold lava floods, which could cause casualties, BMKG noted that it is necessary to install at least EWS at 23 points spread across Agam District, Tanah Datar District, and Padang Panjang City.

Source: Emirates News Agency