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Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, Indonesia Disaster Spokesman, Dies at 49 Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, Indonesia Disaster Spokesman, Dies at 49
(1 day later)
BANGKOK — Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the widely respected spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster management agency, died early Sunday in Guangzhou, China, where he was receiving treatment for cancer. He was 49. BANGKOK — Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, who relied on science to offer fact-based explanations for Indonesia’s frequent natural disasters as the widely respected spokesman for his country’s disaster management agency, died early Sunday in Guangzhou, China. He was 49.
Mr. Sutopo gained national acclaim as a straight-shooting government spokesman who relied on science to offer fact-based explanations for Indonesia’s frequent natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and a tsunami. He was in China for cancer treatment. Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported his death on Twitter. A lifelong nonsmoker, he learned he had Stage 4 lung cancer early last year.
His death was reported on Twitter by his agency, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. Mr. Sutopo gained national acclaim as a straight-shooting government spokesman in times of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, a tsunami and other natural disasters.
[Read our profile of Mr. Sutopo from last year.][Read our profile of Mr. Sutopo from last year.]
A lifelong nonsmoker, Mr. Sutopo learned he had Stage 4 lung cancer early last year. But he continued in his post during what he called the year of disasters, at times tweeting and taking reporters’ calls from his hospital bed. More than 4,600 people died last year in what Mr. Sutopo said was Indonesia’s deadliest year for natural disasters in more than a decade. Despite his illness, he continued in his post during what he called the year of disasters, at times tweeting and taking reporters’ calls from his hospital bed.
Throughout his illness, he remained relentlessly optimistic and counseled other cancer patients on how to cope with their disease. More than 4,600 people died last year in what Mr. Sutopo said was Indonesia’s deadliest year for natural disasters in more than a decade.
He would have turned 50 in October. Throughout his illness, he remained optimistic and counseled other cancer patients on how to cope with their disease. He gained such a large following that his idol, President Joko Widodo, met with him in October and signed a note that said, “Keep being an inspiration.”
Mr. Sutopo gained such a large following that his idol, President Joko Widodo, met with him in October and signed a note that said, “Keep being an inspiration.” Expressing his condolences on Facebook, Mr. Joko called Mr. Sutopo “a person who dedicated his life for other people.”
Mr. Joko shared his condolences on Facebook on Sunday, calling Mr. Sutopo “a person who dedicated his life for other people.” He said that Mr. Sutopo had “informed us quickly on natural disasters, earthquakes, landslides, tsunami or fires that happened across the country for us to be alert and not confused.”
As the disaster agency spokesman, Mr. Joko said, Mr. Sutopo “informed us quickly on natural disasters, earthquakes, landslides, tsunami or fires that happened across the country for us to be alert and not confused.” He added: “As he once said, ‘Life is not about long or short age, it is about how much we help others.’ And he applied that sentence well.”
Noting something Mr. Sutopo once told him, the president added: “As he once said, ‘Life is not about long or short age, it is about how much we help others.’ And he applied that sentence well.”
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho was born in the Central Java regency of Boyolali on Oct. 7, 1969, to Suharsono Harsosaputro, a schoolteacher, and Sri Rosmandari.Sutopo Purwo Nugroho was born in the Central Java regency of Boyolali on Oct. 7, 1969, to Suharsono Harsosaputro, a schoolteacher, and Sri Rosmandari.
He earned a degree in geography at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and a master’s in watershed management and a doctorate in natural resources and environmental management from Bogor Agricultural University in Bogor. He earned a degree in geography at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, a master’s in watershed management and a doctorate in natural resources and environmental management from Bogor Agricultural University in Bogor.
Early in his career, while working as a government researcher, Mr. Sutopo gained public attention by exposing the misconduct of officials who could have prevented a dam collapse that killed more than 100 people. Early in his career, as a government researcher, Mr. Sutopo gained public attention by exposing the misconduct of officials who could have prevented a dam collapse, which killed more than 100 people.
“I always shared with the public, through the media, what the facts are,” he told The New York Times in December.“I always shared with the public, through the media, what the facts are,” he told The New York Times in December.
He repeatedly turned down the job as spokesman for the disaster agency because he feared he would have to limit his remarks to what the government wanted him to say, he said. He had repeatedly turned down the job as spokesman for the disaster agency because he feared he would have to limit his remarks to what the government wanted him to say, he said.
But he said his superiors finally persuaded him by assuring him that they wanted him to take the post because he spoke honestly about events and had credibility with the public. But he said his superiors had finally persuaded him by assuring him that they wanted him to take the post because he spoke honestly about events and had credibility with the public.
He saw part of his job as countering disaster-related rumors and hoaxes by providing scientific explanations.He saw part of his job as countering disaster-related rumors and hoaxes by providing scientific explanations.
“What I am giving out is the real thing,” he told The Times, “not fake news like Donald Trump.”“What I am giving out is the real thing,” he told The Times, “not fake news like Donald Trump.”
Mr. Sutopo is survived by his parents; his wife, Retno Utami Yulianingsih; and two sons, Muhammad Ivanka Rizaldy Nugroho and Muhammad Aufa Wikantyasa Nugroho.Mr. Sutopo is survived by his parents; his wife, Retno Utami Yulianingsih; and two sons, Muhammad Ivanka Rizaldy Nugroho and Muhammad Aufa Wikantyasa Nugroho.