Rudiantara Asks TV Stations to Display Tsunami Early Warning

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Communication and Information (Kominfo) Minister Rudiantara demanded all TV stations in the country display a running text of tsunami early warning information. The minister conveyed his request a few minutes after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake jolted Banten and its vicinity on Friday evening, August 2.

“A running text containing tsunami alert is more necessary,” said Rudiantara at his office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Friday, August 2.

Aside from information about the natural event, TV stations and electronic media should also announce a detailed report about tsunami early warning released by Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Rudiantara said he had yet to receive any report from telecommunication operators regarding any network disruption. However, he is still monitoring network conditions in Banten, Lampung, southern West Java and areas adjacent to the earthquake location.

Moreover, the minister called on the public to not spreading false news about the quake. “It’s better for us to remain vigilant and don’t use this event to distribute hoaxes,” he underlined.

Through its Twitter account earlier, BMKG announced the strong quake’s epicenter was located in southwest Sumur, Banten, at a depth of 10 kilometers and has the potential of a tsunami up to 3 meters in height. 

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA