SINGARAJA ~

Bali Governor, Made Mangku Pastika highlighted the potential threat of disaster in Buleleng Regency so it is necessary to mitigate structurally and non-structurally to reduce the impact of disasters in the northern part of Bali Island.

“Experts’ study and the empirical data shows that Buleleng have complex threats. All disasters often occurred in Buleleng, even become annual events such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, hurricanes, tidal waves of sea water, drought, as well as land and forest fires,” he said when he became Inspector of ceremony and rehearsal of  Disaster Relief 2014, in Seririt, Singaraja, Buleleng on Thursday.

According to him, the victim, damage, loss and suffering of the people caused by the disaster in Buleleng has been quite large.

Therefore, disaster risk reduction efforts must continue to be improved and extended by regarding all aspects of the threat and involve all stakeholders in disaster.

Pastika who is also originally from Buleleng suggested the need of structural and non-structural mitigation efforts which is directed to reduce the threat of disaster such as reforestation to prevent flash floods and landslides and conservation of water resources to prevent drought.

“In addition, it is necessary to do protection and development of coastal vegetation as a greenbelt to reduce the strength of the tsunami waves, the construction  of a retaining wall to prevent landslides and coastal areas which annually affect tidal wave of sea water,” he said.