Post Tsunami; BMKG Installs Seismometer Sensor in Sunda Strait

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) presently focuses on the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau in Sunda Strait. The agency will immediately issue a tsunami early warning if an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4 or above occurs.

“We have installed six modified seismometer sensor to monitor the activity of Mount Anak Krakatau,” said BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati, Tuesday evening, December 25.

The measure was carried out following the tsunami struck coastal areas of Banten and Lampung that caused hundreds of death. Based on the analysis result, the long high sea waves were set off by an underwater landslide caused by the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.

“The crater wall possibly collapses because of tremors and eruption [of Mount Anak Krakatau], extreme weather is also feared to trigger landslides. Thus we appeal to the public to avoid coastal areas,” she underlined.

Dwikorita explained that based on BMKG study, the tremor potentially generated landslides which equal to 3.4 magnitude quake. Therefore, if the sensor system detects a tremor in the same measure, BMKG will immediately issue tsunami early warning. “The warning will be lifted after an hour,” she added.

He continued after the early warning issuance, people in Sunda Strait should leave the coastal areas within a radius of 500 meters to 1 kilometer. Additionally, the tremor could be triggered by high-intensity rains, other than an eruption.

BMKG’s head of earthquake and tsunami Rahmat Triyono said three seismometers were installed in Lampung region and the rest three sensors in Banten. The sensor system so far was believed to be the most effective way to monitor the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau.

Rahmat opined a tsunami potentially occurs due to landslides caused by the activity of . “Today [Tuesday, December 25], BMKG detects four shocks with a magnitude of averagely under 3,” he noted.

TAUFIQ SIDDIQ