Disaster. The word is increasingly familiar in our ears. In fact, more and more people in this country have experienced it first hand. Data and facts show this.

Floods, earthquakes, water crises, deadly accidents, and fires plague rapidly growing cities in Indonesia. However, mitigation in these urban areas is still minimal.

The floods in Bekasi regency indicated that there was a problem with the waterways. The improvement of the Citarum River should also include the downstream part of the river and the construction of a drainage system.

Floods and landslides have been increasing in several watersheds (DAS) over the last 10 years. These watersheds, which are categorized as posing very high risk of disaster, are home to 80.9 million people.

Several areas in Indonesia have been hit by hydrometeorological disasters. Anticipative measures are needed as extreme weather is forecasted to last until Oct. 15.

People need to be aware of the impacts of extreme weather. For one, strong winds can result in fallen trees and billboards, damage to house roofs, reduced visibility or even floods and landslides.

With extreme weather having the potential to turn into a disaster in a matter of hours, emergency alerts crucially need to be extended down to the district level.

The flash flood in Batu is an alarm for everyone. We may at times have to prioritize ecological preservation for the sake of safety.