BMKG Explains Viral Study on Quake, Tsunami Potential in Mentawai

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An article entitled `Gempa 8,9 Skala Richter dan Tsunami Ancam Padang` or the 8.9-magnitude quake and tsunami threatens Padang City went viral on social media. The report, first released on October 12, 2010, had been shared for over 211,000 times through Facebook and other social media.

The study report on the potential megathrust earthquake in Siberut Island, Mentawai, West Sumatra was written by the quake and tsunami experts, members of Team 9 which were established by Presidential Special Staff for Social and Disaster Unit (SKP BSB). 

The Head of Earthquake and Tsunami Section at the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Rahmat Triyono, said the article often became public highlight after the earthquake hit Indonesian regions.

“Every time an earthquake occurs, the news is spread. They [people in Padang] get used to the article,” Rahmat told Tempo, Thursday, Oct 18.

Rahmat explained the research that released eight years ago could be used as today's reference and to be followed up by the central or regional government through several mitigation programs.

The government, he mentioned, had built evacuation shelters, installed disaster early warning system, built evacuation routes, and provided dissemination to the public regarding the issue. Aside from the study findings, the country had already had the maps of earthquake and tsunami risk zones as the reference for mitigation efforts.

“Even though it [earthquake and tsunami] may not happen, but who can assure it will happen? So, we cannot ignore it,” Rahmat said, before adding that many areas in Indonesia were prone to earthquake and tsunami. Therefore, the public should remain on alert despite the article was long released. 

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI