Indonesia Faces 5 Simultaneous Volcanic Eruptions, Lawmaker Calls for Integrated Mitigation
Indonesia sees 5 concurrent volcanic eruptions, sparking calls for a unified national disaster and transport mitigation strategy from Parliament.
JAKARTA — Indonesia is grappling with a surge in volcanic activity as five separate volcanoes erupted in quick succession on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. The simultaneous eruptions of Anak Krakatau, Sinabung, Lewotobi Laki-laki, Semeru, and Merapi have prompted urgent calls from Parliament for a more integrated national disaster management strategy.
Ade Ginanjar, a member of Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR), which oversees transportation and public works, warned that authorities must stop treating volcanic events as isolated incidents. He insisted that the state’s disaster response, meteorological monitoring, and search-and-rescue systems must operate under a singular, cohesive framework to mitigate the risk to public safety and national connectivity.
"We must not view each eruption as a standalone occurrence. The state must ensure all systems are prepared to address the potentially wide-ranging impacts on both the public and national infrastructure," Ginanjar said in an official statement on Sunday.
Translating Data into Decisive Action
Ginanjar urged Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) and the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) to ensure their technical data is rapidly converted into actionable operational directives. He argued that technical alerts are insufficient unless they are immediately paired with practical guidance for field teams and transportation authorities.
The legislator emphasized that critical data—including wind patterns, ash column height, and potential trajectories—must be disseminated in real-time to the Ministry of Transportation, search-and-rescue agencies (Basarnas), regional governments, and transport operators. "Effective mitigation lies not only in detecting threats but in the state's capacity to translate that data into action before risks escalate into casualties," he stated.
Standardizing Emergency Protocols
Addressing the risk of institutional fragmentation, Ginanjar called for the implementation of a "single data, single coordination, and single protocol" policy. He warned that delays or distortions in communication between agencies such as the BMKG and the Ministry of Transportation could lead to public confusion and unnecessary danger at airports and seaports.
Consistency is vital to maintain public trust. When an alert is issued, it must reach all transit hubs and the media simultaneously, preventing the circulation of conflicting information that could leave travelers stranded or unaware of risks during their journeys.
Protecting National Connectivity
The Ministry of Transportation has been tasked with heightened surveillance, particularly in regions vulnerable to drifting volcanic ash. The activity at Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait, serves as a stark reminder of how volcanic events can paralyze regional connectivity, potentially forcing the closure of major gateways like Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Ginanjar underscored that the primary objective must be the safety of citizens, which includes the transparent and timely notification of flight cancellations, route diversions, or service restorations. "The public must not be left to find out about disruptions only after they have arrived at the airport or seaport. Information must be provided as early as possible so that travelers can make safe decisions," he concluded.
