40,9 Million People are at Risk of Lanslides: BNPB

Jakarta (Antara) -- As many as 40.9 million people, which is 17.2 percent of the population of Indonesia, are in danger of landslides, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said. "Some 40.9 million people are at risk, which includes 4.28 million children, 323,000 persons with disabilities and 3.2 million elderly," Nugroho stated here on Monday. Many areas in West Java, Central Java and East Java were vulnerable to landslides throughout 2014. "This is because the population in those regions increased," he added. Nugroho called on residents to remain vigilant because landslides might occur till the beginning of next year. "Judging from the landslides that occurred from 2005 to 2014, the peak season for the disaster is between January and February as it follows the pattern of rainfall," he explained. He urged people living in areas prone to landslides to seek safe places to reside. In addition, they should also implement soil and water conservation measures in those areas. "Lack of soil and water conservation measures leads to landslides eventually," he warned. (*)