ITB Seismic Expert: Sunda Strait Tectonic Strain Can Increase Krakatoa Eruption Potential

JAKARTA - Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) seismic expert Irwan Meilano said the Sunda Strait region experienced high strain (extension) which could increase the potential for an eruption (eruption) of Mount Anak Krakatau (GAK).

"This high tectonic strain accelerates magmatic intrusion and increases the potential for an eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau," said the Dean of the Faculty of Earth Science and Technology, ITB, quoted by Antara, Friday, January 21.

Satellite image data taken in 2018 shows that Mount Anak Krakatau continues to experience inflation (land level rise) until now.

In the webinar understanding the seismic gap of the megathrust in the south of Banten/Sunda Strait, Irwan said that a survey conducted from 2006-2012 showed that there was strain in the Sunda Strait and the next survey, in 2012-2019, showed an even greater strain.

This strain causes the distance between the islands of Sumatra and Java to be further and there may be implications for tectonic activity related to faults and volcanics in the Sunda Strait.

The implication of tectonic strain, from the modeling carried out, is to calculate the magnitude of the convergence based on the survey that occurs only at the shallowest location and very close to the Sunda Strait.

"This means that so close to the Sunda Strait the possibility of an earthquake occurring is an earthquake-tsunami," he said.

From the modeling results, there is a tectonic bond (coupling) in the contact area between plates which is very close to the Sunda Strait.

The source of a large earthquake (megathrust) in the Sunda Strait is at the shallowest part so that it has the potential to produce earthquakes and tsunamis.

The survey also shows the entry of the Sumatran fault into the Sunda Strait which can have implications if an earthquake occurs and has the potential for a tsunami.

So the 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Pandeglang Banten, on Friday (14/1), became a warning (alarm) to increase awareness, preparedness and mitigation against earthquake and tsunami disasters.