BNPB: West Sumatra Earthquake Has A 50100 Year Cycle, Residents Are Asked To Improve Preparedness

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto ANTARA/Muhammad Zulfikar

PADANG - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) noted that earthquakes in West Sumatra Province have an event cycle ranging from 50 to 100 years.

"Disaster is a recurring event. Until now, the Padang earthquake or the West Sumatra earthquake cycle is between 50'100 years," said Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto at The 3rd International Conference on Disaster Mitigation and Management (ICDMM) 2025 in Padang, Antara, Monday, September 29.

Suharyanto reminded West Sumatra that he had experienced a large earthquake in Padang City with a magnitude of 7.6 on September 30, 2009.

The earthquake, which occurred 16 years ago, killed 1,117 people and damaged about 300,000 houses, even though it was 80 kilometers deep.

"This is official data from BNPB. However, perhaps there are conditions on the ground that mention more, namely more than 2,000 people," he said.

He said a number of scientists in West Sumatra also assessed that the Mentawai Fault has the potential to release large energy suddenly.

"But hopefully it doesn't happen in our time of life," said Suharyanto.

According to him, although science continues to develop, no one is able to predict exactly when the earthquake will occur. Even Japan's latest technology was only able to detect 30 seconds before the earthquake, which was deemed insufficient to save itself.

Therefore, Suharyanto emphasized the importance of mitigation and preparedness in dealing with disasters. He considered the 2009 earthquake experience a valuable lesson for West Sumatra to increase emergency responses and disaster management.