Padang, April 26 -- National Disaster Preparedness Day serves as momentum for Indonesia to raise its people's awareness of the threats of natural disasters, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head Suharyanto stated.

"The National Disaster Preparedness Day is meant to build awareness of disasters in Indonesia," he remarked during an event to commemorate the day, which falls every April 26 in Padang, West Sumatra, on Friday.

He said that the national day coincides with the ratification date of Law No. 24 of 2007 on disaster mitigation, Indonesia's first comprehensive legal instrument regulating disaster handling measures.

Suharyanto said he views National Disaster Preparedness Day as crucial to raising public awareness of disaste...