Thousands Of Houses Damaged By Earthquake In Malang, The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency: Bad Building Structure, They Are Not Designed Earthquake Resistant

JAKARTA - Poor building structure was the cause of many houses that collapsed in the earthquake in Malang, East Java on Saturday, April 10. The majority of buildings do not use column structures at their corners.

Thus the statement of the Head of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati in a written statement reported from Antara, Wednesday, April 14.

"From the results of surveys and evaluations in the field, many building structures were found that did not meet earthquake-resistant requirements".

In addition to the structure of the building, other factors contribute to the condition of rocks or local soil. Much damage occurs to alluvium deposits and volcanic lava deposits.

In addition, local topographical conditions in the form of valley slopes composed of soil or rocks with a classification of medium density (density) and distance to the epicenter.

The conclusion is based on the results of BMKG Macrosysm and Microsemitic surveys in Malang, Blitar, and Lumajang. One of the points is in Sumber Tangkil Village and Jogomulyan Village, Tirtoyudo District, Malang Regency which is the worst affected area by the earthquake.

The results of the survey will be submitted to the local government as a form of earthquake vulnerability microzonation map which then becomes the basis of recommendations for the reconstruction of damaged buildings to be built in the right zones and building standards.

Dwikorita said that actually, the earthquake did not kill or injure. On the contrary, it is the building that injures and even kills people. Therefore, she said, houses or buildings need to be prepared to be strong and earthquake resistant.

"The potential danger of earthquakes in Indonesia is very large, so it should be anticipated by applying a 'building code' strictly in building structures. Earthquake-resistant buildings must be enforced in earthquake-prone areas", she said.

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 shook Malang, East Java, and surrounding areas on Saturday. The disaster affected 15 districts/cities in East Java, ranging from Probolinggo to Ponorogo which caused thousands of homes and hundreds of public facilities to be damaged

According to data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Monday as of Monday, April 12, a total of 179 public facilities were damaged by the earthquake. The disaster also resulted in 1.361 houses being lightly damaged, 845 houses moderately damaged, and 642 houses severely damaged.