Geological Agency: Weather Causes Earthworms to Surface in Bantul
13 June 2015 09:48 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Head of Geological Agency of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Surono, doubts recent reports that say the earthworm-surfacing phenomenon in Bantul is a sign for an earthquake.
“The worms are responding to the weather change from wet to dry season,” Surono said.
Geologist from the National Development University (UPN) Veteran Yogyakarta, Prasetyadi further study is needed to confirm the cause of the worms coming out to the earth surface.
According to Prasetyadi, earthquake usually happens after energy accumulation resulting from a long-term earth plates activities.
The fact that a 5.9-magnitude earth quake had happened in Bantul in 2006 adds up to the doubt. This is because the last quake having similar magnitude happened way back in 1943. It means that the energy had taken tens of years to accumulate.
Once the energy accumulation reaches its maximum, it is released in a form of earthquake in a very short time.
“The energy-releasing speed is faster than the speed of sounds, therefore earthquake is hard to detect,” Prasetyadi gave his saying.
According to Prasetyadi, the most accurate method to detect earthquake today is to deploy Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors. Such method has been used and developed by international scientists.
Previously, Head of Bantul Mitigation Agency (BPDB), Dwi Daryanto reported he had witnessed hundreds of eartworms coming out to the surface along the asphalt road around his residence in Bangunjiwo Village, Kasihan Subdistrict, Bantul, on Tuesday morning.
The worms are black and sized about over ten centimeters.
“But I believe this is happens because of the weather. The worms are probably surface because it’s supposed to be the dry season now, but there were pouring rain yesterday,” Dwi explained.
ADDI MAWAHIBUN IDHOM