PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) held an independent evacuation simulation at the Cingised Rusunawa, Sunday (6/9/2026).

The activity in Cisaranten Kulon Village, Arcamanik District, involved residents in a simulation as well as the making of a short film entitled "What's Up in Cingised?"

Head of the Bandung City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Didi Ruswandi, said the simulation aims to improve residents' ability to save themselves when a disaster occurs.

"The more Bandung residents have the capacity to save themselves, the better. Because 95 percent of people survive disasters, that's the community's capacity," Didi said.

The activity involved Rusunawa managers, residents, the Rusunawa Community Health Center Technical Implementation Unit (UPT), Dharma Husada Health College students, and a number of supporting teams.

The Cingised Rusunawa was chosen because the management has an obligation to equip residents with disaster safety knowledge and is ready to become a partner of the BPBD.

"So it really meets in one node," he said.

Didi said that the safety of residents is influenced by environmental vulnerability and the community's capacity to deal with emergency situations appropriately.

Environmental vulnerability includes the quality of building structures or settlements, while community capacity determines the ability to respond to disaster threats.

Regarding the spread of volcanic ash, Didi urged the public to wear masks when carrying out outdoor activities while the situation persists.

The public is also asked to avoid outdoor activities unless there is an urgent need while the volcanic ash is still in effect.

Didi hopes that similar simulations can be held in other areas so that all residents understand safety measures and build a culture of disaster resilience.

Dharma Husada Health College Bandung students also assisted in the simulation to help residents understand the actions that need to be taken in an emergency.

Sabila Putri, one of the participating students, assessed that disaster preparedness education and simulations are important for expanding public knowledge.

"Increasing knowledge and insight for Bandung residents in particular," he said.

Sabila hopes that these activities will continue to provide positive benefits to the community by increasing their understanding of how to deal with various disaster risks.

Another student, Muhammad Dafi Firmansyah, said the simulation was interesting and helped residents understand evacuation routes and assembly points.

"Adding something positive for the residents, so everyone knows," he said.

Dafi hopes that BPBD activities will continue to develop so that the public will increasingly understand the risks and impacts that can arise from various disasters.

(Bandung City Communications and Information Service/bhf)