BMKG Announces System Error in Earthquake and Tsunami SMS Alert
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27 May 2021 16:59 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) clarified the issue of the early warning information about 8.5-magnitude earthquake and tsunami potential broadcasted via SMS from BMKG-Kominfo (Communication and Information Ministry) today at around 10:36 Western Indonesian Time (WIB). The agency asserted that it was false information.
"The information is incorrect because there is an error system on the issuance of quake and tsunami early warnings via SMS," said the agency's head of quake and tsunami Setiyo Prayitno on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
The message was circulated Thursday morning, May 27, 2021, noting tsunami early warning for Central Java, East Java, Bali, and East Nusa Tenggara following a quake with a magnitude of 8.5 on June 4, 2021, at 10:14:45 WIB. It was said that the quake was centered at 10.50 degrees south latitude and 114.80 degrees east longitude.
BMKG along with the Kominfo Ministry said that it had clarified the wrong information through the same communication channel or SMS BMKG-Kominfo. The investigation was immediately carried out to trace the source of the error.
"People are urged to remain calm because there is no 8.5-magnitude quake in the Indonesian territory based on the BMKG monitoring, and the BMKG does not issue a tsunami early warning," said BMKG.
BMKG also asserted that the information was also not a prediction of a future quake, adding that no technology in the world could precisely predict when, where, and how much strength an earthquake will occur.
"People are advised to update BMKG information via official channels such as its website, social media accounts, Call Center 196, or nearby BMKG offices," BMKG said.
EGI ADYATAMA