Enhancing geohazard-based natural hazards triggering technological accidents’ preparedness: A policy framework in Indonesian context

Abstract

Indonesia’s rapid industrialisation and high exposure to destructive geohazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides) create an escalating and under-addressed risk of natural hazards triggering technological accidents (NATECH) and systemic industrial failures. This convergence necessitates a robust governance framework, yet current national policies remain fragmented and reactive, lacking explicit provisions for NATECH risk integration. This study delivers an integrated evidence base to diagnose critical gaps in Indonesia’s NATECH governance. Using a mixed-method approach, combining a bibliometric review of 47 publications (2007–2025), geospatial mapping and regulatory assessment, the findings reveal minimal research attention, weak cross-sectoral coordination and a policy vacuum within key disaster and environmental regulations. Specifically, bibliometric mapping using VOSviewer is employed to identify research trends and knowledge gaps, while a bibliometric literature review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework ensures transparency and reproducibility in the article selection process. Geospatial analysis further confirms that numerous special economic zone (SEZ) facilities are critically located within high-risk seismic and tsunami zones. We argue that the systemic lack of NATECH mainstreaming necessitates fundamental regulatory reform. We propose a geohazard-based NATECH preparedness policy framework structured around three pillars: (1) establishing a national NATECH database and detailed risk mapping; (2) mandating standardised industrial preparedness schemes based on global best practices; and (3) enacting binding regulatory mechanisms through the harmonisation of laws across key sectors.
Contribution: This framework provides a crucial roadmap for enhancing industrial resilience and reducing cascading risk in one of the world’s most geologically active regions.