Indonesia Launches Megathrust Guides
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency released five new mitigation books on Wednesday to strengthen infrastructure against earthquakes and tsunamis.
The newly published volumes aim to provide clear references for evaluating structural reliability across the country, Tempo.co reported. BMKG Head Teuku Faisal Fathani said the agency developed the books over several months with input from universities including the University of Indonesia and Bandung Institute of Technology.
“These books can serve as guidelines and references when infrastructure is built or when existing infrastructure is reevaluated for its reliability in facing earthquakes and tsunamis,” Faisal said following the book launch at the BMKG Auditorium in Jakarta.
“Thus, the hope is that this book can prevent the confusion of information while providing comprehensive and easily understood explanations for the public,” BMKG Head Teuku Faisal Fathani said, addressing frequent public inquiries regarding seismic risks since he took office.
Seismic energy accumulation creates urgent disaster risk in urban centers
Acting Deputy for Geophysical Affairs at BMKG Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan said that Indonesia’s location along major tectonic plate convergences creates seismic energy accumulation. Urban expansion makes this hazard management urgent.
“This launching initiative is part of disaster risk reduction efforts in Indonesia through early prevention steps based on science and geophysical data,” Sopaheluwakan said.
Roughly 60 percent of the national population lives in urban centers. High population density increases vulnerability to high-impact seismic events.
Microzonation Atlas maps soil conditions and megathrust zone dynamics
The fourth volume, the Microzonation Atlas, maps local soil conditions that alter ground-shaking intensity. This data assists urban planners in prioritizing structural reinforcements for bridges, dams, and buildings.
The final volume examines tectonic dynamics across 14 segments of the country’s megathrust zone. It contains historical records alongside ground-shaking models and tsunami impact projections.
Who peer-reviewed the BMKG mitigation books and which commission oversaw them?
Who peer-reviewed the five new BMKG mitigation books?
Experts from several institutions reviewed the volumes, including the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Semarang State University, and Semarang State Polytechnic, according to Tempo.co.
Which parliamentary commission oversaw the preparation of the texts?
Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives oversaw the compilation to ensure consistent application across state institutions.
How many segments make up the megathrust zone covered in the final volume?
The volume details geological characteristics and tectonic dynamics across 14 segments of Indonesia’s megathrust zone.
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