BRIN Finds A 1,800-Year-Old Purba Tsunami Near YIA Kulon Progo Airport, Beware Of Potential Disasters

Research conducted by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in finding ancient tsunami deposits aged around 1,800 years in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta. BETWEEN/HO-BRIN

JAKARTA - A research team from the Center for Geological Disaster Research, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) found ancient tsunami deposits aged around 1,800 years in several locations south of Java, one of which was in the southern coast area of Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY).

BRIN Sedimentology researcher Purna Sulastya Putra said the ancient tsunami deposit was found about two kilometers from Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA).

This finding is a concern given the rapid development of development around the airport area.

We also found younger layers in Kulon Progo. We have previously found these layers in several other locations, such as Lebak and Pangandaran, which show that tsunami events are likely to have repeated more than once in this area," Purna said in a statement in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, July 15.

Purna explained that the increase in facility development activities such as hotels and restaurants did have a positive impact on the community's economic side.

However, massive development without taking into account the risk of disaster can actually increase the vulnerability of the region to potential disasters, such as tsunamis.

According to him, every development has great benefits, but in the context of disaster-prone areas, it is important for all parties to build with awareness of risks and based on scientific data.

"With the rapid development in this region, geological disaster research is becoming increasingly important to provide information as a basis for planning and risk mitigation. One of them is through palyotsunami studies," said Purna.

He emphasized the importance of science being an inseparable part of the planning and development process, especially in disaster-prone areas. With collaboration between stakeholders, it is hoped that the results of this research will not only stop as a scientific document, but become a real foothold in realizing adaptive, safe, and sustainable development.