TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has echoed concerns raised by Japanese scientists about the potential for a massive earthquake from the Megathrust zone in Sunda Strait (M8.7) and Mentawai-Siberut (M8.9).

These areas, along with the Nankai Megathrust in Japan, are identified as "seismic gaps", regions overdue for a significant seismic event.

“The occurrence of a major earthquake in these two megathrust segments is ‘imminent’ due to the absence of large earthquakes for hundreds of years,” Daryono, the agency’s head of the quake and tsunami center, said in a press release about the earthquake in Nankai, South Japan, Monday, August 12, 2024.

A megathrust zone is characterized by a long, shallow subduction boundary capable of generating powerful earthquakes and subsequent tsunamis, especially on the coast near the epicenter. The recent M7.1 earthquake in the Nankai Megathrust on Friday, August 8, serves as a stark reminder of the region's seismic activity.

Daryono emphasized that the Nankai earthquake was unlikely to directly impact Indonesia's tectonic plates due to the distance. However, he cautioned about potential tsunami risks. “A huge tsunami in Japan can spread to the Indonesian region,” he added.

He also stressed that Indonesia's tsunami early warning system, InaTEWS, is equipped to monitor and respond to such events. The BMKG will immediately disseminate earthquake information and tsunami early warnings throughout Indonesia, especially in the northern part.

As part of the preparation and mitigation efforts, Daryono went on, BMKG has readied a monitoring system, processing, and dissemination of earthquake information and tsunami early warnings. The agency has also conducted mitigation and evacuation training, based on tsunami modeling, for local governments, stakeholders, and the community.

ALIF ILHAM FAJRIADI

Editor's Choice: BMKG Confirms Indonesia Unaffected by Japan Earthquake

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News