JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that the Lawanopo Fault activity in Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) could potentially trigger earthquakes with a magnitude (M) of up to 7.6.
The Functional Meteorology and Geophysics Observer (PMG) of the Kendari Geophysical Station, Imanuela Indah Pertiwi, said the Lawanopo Fault is one of the most active faults on land in the Sultra region with a stretch of 130 kilometers.
"Based on research from the National Earthquake Study Center (PusGeN) in 2024, this fault has the potential for earthquakes with a maximum magnitude of 7.6," said Imanuela Indah when contacted in Kendari, Monday, quoted by Antara.
He said that geographically, this fault line stretches from northwest to southeast, crossing the territory of North Kolaka Regency, Konawe, to North Konawe Regency.
Some of the points that the fault line passes through include Batu Putih and Pakue Utara (North Kolaka) Districts, Latoma, Routa, and Amonggedo (Konawe) Districts, as well as the Asera, Andowia, Molawe, Lasolo, and Wawolesea areas in North Konawe.
Imanuela Indah explained that this fault activity was last detected quite significantly through an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.3 on March 8, 2026, whose shock was felt in the Kendari and East Kolaka areas.
Regarding potential hazards, he said the main impact of the Lawanopo Fault activity was the risk of building damage around the fault line. However, the potential for a tsunami is relatively small because the fault position is on land.
"The chance of a tsunami is relatively small because this is a land fault. Unless there is a major earthquake that triggers underwater landslides, only then will these conditions make it possible for a tsunami to occur," said Imanuela Indah.
He revealed that as a mitigation step, the BMKG encouraged local governments to tighten the standards for the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings, especially for public facilities around fault lines.
"Currently, BMKG has also strengthened the monitoring system by adding vibration recording devices along the route," he said.
Imanuela Indah explained that the early warning system owned by BMKG is currently able to deliver earthquake information in less than three minutes through the Warning Receiver System (WSR) device integrated with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).
"The public is asked not to panic but to continue to increase their readiness, given that the time of the earthquake has not been accurately predicted so far," he added.
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