Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati talked about the development of the disaster early warning system in Indonesia. Including when early warnings were late in announcing the potential for an earthquake and tsunami several years ago.
He explained the early warning system during the earthquake and tsunami in Aceh in 2004. At that time the system was still inadequate, there were only 25-50 seismograph sensors.
“The processing was still manual, still using protractors, rulers, pencils, the computers were still very behind. So it was difficult for BMKG at that time to immediately determine the position of an earthquake, whether its magnitude had the potential for a tsunami or not,” said Dwikorita during World Tsunami Awareness Day, quoted from BMKG Info channel, Saturday (4/11/2023).
Therefore, BMKG is developing even more developed early warning. However, the system was designed for a potential tsunami triggered by the Megathrust earthquake.
The earthquake had great strength. This is the same as what happened during the earthquake in Aceh almost 20 years ago measuring 8.5 on the Richter scale.
“So the seismograph network faces the megathrust zone. At that time, BMKG had not yet thought about preparing for another type of tsunami. What they thought was the deadly one, a tsunami caused by a megathrust earthquake,” he explained.
He said it turned out that there was a non-seismic tsunami that occurred in Indonesia. Unfortunately, tsunami early warning was not ready at that time.
“So the tsunami incident in Palu made us aware of how important early warning or monitoring systems are, early warning systems for non-seismic tsunamis,” said Dwikorita.
He explained that the early warning that existed at that time gave 5-10 minutes for a tsunami and five minutes for an earthquake. But what happened in Palu, the tsunami came in the 2nd minute.
This incident also became a new lesson. Namely improving the existing system so that it can also detect non-seismic tsunamis at the same time quickly.
“We continue to work hard to pursue technological progress. Don’t let the tsunami happen first. Like what happened in Palu, the tsunami was first, three minutes earlier,” he said.
“We must learn important lessons from the tragedy 20 years ago during the tsunami in Aceh. Don’t let the loss of life and huge economic losses repeat itself,” he added.
BMKG, said Dwikorita, together with BNPB, universities, local government and the community will continue to work together to build community strength with local wisdom and the readiness of a more resilient community.
As planned by the UN secretary general, by 2027 it is hoped that 100% of people in vulnerable areas will always be ready to save themselves during a tsunami in order to create a Safe Ocean.
“Don’t be too satisfied with technology because there are still many shortcomings,” he said.
Apart from that, he added, it is not enough to rely on technology. But the center, said Dwikorita, remains in the community. According to him, local wisdom has been proven to be able to save society.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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