BMKG Denies Issuing Predictions, By The End Of 2021 The Cilegon Banten Area Will Be Hit By An 8 Meter Tsunami

JAKARTA - The Coordinator of Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Daryono, emphasized that his party had never issued a prediction regarding the Cilegon, Banten area will experience a tsunami towards the end of 2021.

"Regarding the news currently circulating, regarding the potential for a tsunami in Cilegon, the BMKG has not issued a prediction and does not predict a tsunami will occur on Christmas and New Year's Day", Daryono said when contacted by Antara, Friday, December 3.

Daryono explained, Cilegon is one example of a prone area that has the potential for a tsunami and is discussed in a general context so that people are alert regarding weather, climate, ocean waves and earthquakes, and tsunamis.

"That is, it is the same as other cities that have the potential and historical record of a tsunami", said Daryono.

Based on the BMKG tsunami catalog, since 1608 Indonesia has experienced 246 tsunami waves, up to the one in the Sunda Strait some time ago.

He also mentioned that there are indeed several areas that are also included in disaster-prone areas, such as the West coast of Sumatra from Aceh to Lampung, the Sunda Strait from West Java to Banyuwangi, South Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi. Thus, all parties are expected to always be aware of disasters that will occur at any time.

“So Ms. Dwikorita actually spoke in general, urging the public to be vigilant regarding the weather, climate, ocean waves, earthquakes, and tsunamis. That is natural and indeed our main task", he said.

According to Daryono, earthquakes, and tsunamis are natural disasters which until now cannot be predicted when they will occur. However, the potential hazard can be modeled using the worst-case scenario for concrete mitigation references, such as through earthquake sources, historical records of an area experiencing disasters, and the results of monitoring carried out by the BMKG.

Therefore, he asked the entire community, especially the residents of Cilegon, not to be influenced by information that cannot be accounted for and to continue to follow the development of disaster information through official channels belonging to the BMKG.

Daryono also asked all media to be more careful in distinguishing the words prediction and potential disaster. Thus, it can prevent the occurrence of hoaxes that will arise and disturb the community.

"People don't need to worry and panic too much. No one can predict earthquakes and tsunamis. So people don't need to panic too much as long as there is no tsunami early warning issued by the BMKG", said Daryono.

Previously, the public was shocked by news on social media saying that in the Cilegon area, Banten was predicted to experience a potential tsunami wave as high as 8 meters at the end of 2021.

This was due to a misunderstanding regarding what was discussed by the Head of BMKG Dwikorita Karnawati, regarding the potential for a tsunami disaster that could occur in Indonesian territory during the Christmas and New Year holidays.