Puan asks the Indonesian government to ensure the protection of Indonesian citizens in three countries affected by the earthquake.

JAKARTA - The Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, expressed concern over the disaster of a major earthquake that hit Venezuela, Japan, and California, USA in close proximity. He asked the Government to ensure the safety of Indonesian Citizens (WNI) who are in the 3 countries.

"Of course, Indonesia also sympathizes with the earthquake disaster that hit Venezuela, Japan, and California, USA," said Puan Maharani in her statement, Saturday, June 27.

As is known, a massive earthquake hit three countries in less than 24 hours with consecutive times since Wednesday, June 24 afternoon Western Indonesian Time (WIB) to Thursday, June 25 morning.

Venezuela experienced a twin earthquake or double earthquake that also hit Indonesia. This twin earthquake in Venezuela occurred on Wednesday afternoon local time where the first earthquake had a magnitude (M) of 7.5 and the second earthquake was more devastating, namely M 7.5.

The Venezuelan earthquake caused serious damage to the country's infrastructure. A number of buildings in the capital of Venezuela, Caracas, were reported to have collapsed. The death toll from the two devastating earthquakes reached 235 people and 1,520 people were injured.

Puan also expressed condolences for the loss of life in Venezuela due to the earthquake, which was quite significant. "On behalf of the DPR RI and the Indonesian people, we express our deep sorrow to the people of Venezuela. We can feel the weight of the burden due to the earthquake in Venezuela because we have experienced the same thing," he said.

The twin earthquake phenomenon that has occurred in Indonesia includes the Bengkulu Earthquake in 2007 to the Lombok Earthquake in 2018. Both twin earthquakes triggered damage and a tsunami.

In addition to Venezuela, the earthquake also shook Northern California, USA, with an M5.6 magnitude centered at a very shallow depth, 8.1 km on Wednesday (24/6) at 22.10 local time. Various media in the US called this earthquake the strongest since 1990.

A strong M7.2 earthquake also shook the Japanese region, specifically in northeastern Japan on Thursday, June 25 at 07.30 local time. It was reported that there were no casualties due to the earthquake in California and Japan, although there were a number of people who were injured.

Although the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has confirmed that there were no Indonesian casualties in the series of earthquakes that hit Venezuela, Japan, and California, Puan asked the Government to continue to monitor the conditions of Indonesian citizens in the three countries. He encouraged the Government to immediately activate the protocol for the protection of Indonesian citizens in international disaster situations.

"Including continuing to monitor the condition of all Indonesian citizens in the affected areas, the establishment of an integrated information center for families in Indonesia, the readiness of logistical assistance and psychosocial services if needed," said Puan.

The former PMK coordinator also asked the Government to strengthen the protection system for Indonesian citizens based on technology through the updating of Indonesian diaspora data. In addition, said Puan, it is also necessary to optimize the Safe Travel service, as well as the development of an emergency communication system that allows Indonesian representatives to obtain information on the condition of Indonesian citizens more quickly when disasters or conflicts occur abroad.

"Protection of citizens is a constitutional mandate that must be realized through measurable readiness, including for Indonesian citizens living or abroad. The state must always have the ability to reach, protect, and ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens wherever they are," said Puan.

Based on information, the earthquakes that occurred in Venezuela, Japan, and California are not related because they are triggered by different sources and their very distant locations. The three consecutive earthquakes were triggered by earthquakes with varying source mechanisms, ranging from local fault slip (Northern California and Venezuela) to subduction plate activity (Japan).

Puan hopes that the people of Venezuela, Japan, and California who were affected by the earthquake can quickly recover and return to normal activities.

"Our prayers for all the people of Venezuela, Japan, and California," he concluded.