Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, 16 September announced a sweeping expansion of the country's disaster response infrastructure, including the acquisition of large aerial water-bombing aircraft and hundreds of additional helicopters for firefighting operations. The announcement, made during a government talk programme, signals one of the most ambitious emergency preparedness commitments since Prabowo took office.

What the President Ordered

'I am determined to strengthen our mitigation capabilities. The agencies that deal with disasters must be strengthened,' Prabowo said, according to the state communications agency. He confirmed that he had already ordered several large aircraft specifically configured for water-bombing missions, in addition to flagging the need for hundreds of helicopters for firefighting and broader disaster response work.

The President also linked disaster preparedness directly to fiscal discipline, warning that corruption in the management of state resources could critically undermine the country's emergency response capacity.

Funding the Push: Savings Redirected

Prabowo said the government had saved more than 300 trillion rupiah (approximately 17 billion US dollars) during his first year in office, partly by cutting ministry expenditure on events such as anniversary celebrations. He indicated that these savings should be redirected toward more productive national programmes, including disaster mitigation.

Citing Indonesia's position along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' — one of the world's most seismically and volcanically active zones — Prabowo framed the investment as a strategic necessity rather than discretionary spending.

Context: Fires and Natural Disasters in 2024

The announcement comes amid a difficult year for Indonesia on the natural disaster front. Widespread forest and land fires have ravaged parts of Kalimantan in 2024, compounding the toll of other natural calamities. Indonesia regularly contends with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and seasonal fires, making its disaster response infrastructure a perennial policy concern. Notably, this is the first major aerial firefighting procurement commitment under the Prabowo administration.

Ferry Disaster: 129 Still Missing in Java Sea

Separately, Indonesian authorities are grappling with an ongoing maritime emergency. The ferry KM Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 people, sank in the Java Sea after losing contact early Sunday while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. As of 10 pm Monday, 108 survivors had been rescued and six bodies recovered, leaving 129 people unaccounted for.

Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, said the vessel is lying at a depth of approximately 30 metres in waters off Masalembo. Authorities are weighing whether to tow the wreck to shallower waters to facilitate the next phase of the search operation. The Indonesian Navy has, for now, advised against disturbing the vessel while rescue teams remain focused on locating survivors.

'We still very much hope that victims will soon be found alive,' Syafii told a press conference in Banjarmasin. Search teams are currently operating across six sectors, with the possibility of adjusting the search grid as new information emerges.

What Comes Next

The government has not yet detailed a procurement timeline for the firefighting aircraft or specified which agencies will oversee the expanded fleet. Industry observers note that large aerial firefighting assets — such as amphibious water bombers — require significant lead times for acquisition, crew training, and maintenance infrastructure. How quickly Indonesia can operationalise the President's directive will be the critical test of this commitment.