BMKG installs High Frequency Radar in West Sumatra, Speeds up Tsunami Detection and Helps Ship Navigation

Installation of a high frequency radar in Padang City, West Sumatra. ANTARA/HO-Geofisika Class 1 Padang Panjang Station

PADANG - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has installed a high frequency radar or high frequency radar as a navigational aid for ship crossings as well as a reinforcement of the early confirmation system of tsunami waves in the coastal areas of West Sumatra.

Head of the Padang Panjang Class I Geophysics Station Suadi Ahadi said the device was installed at two strategic points, namely near the Al Hakim Mosque, Padang City, and the Anas Malik Park area, Pariaman City.

"This high-frequency radar is not only for navigation of sea crossings, but also useful for confirming the presence of tsunamis," said Suadi when contacted in Padang, Antara, Monday, April 13.

According to him, the tool is very vital because it is able to provide information on sea conditions for ships serving routes from Padang City to the Mentawai Islands Regency.

Until now, BMKG has relied on tsunami gauges to detect changes in sea level. However, the system still has limitations in quickly confirming the potential waves that arrive on the coast.

With the presence of high-frequency radars, BMKG can validate the direction and source of tsunami waves with better accuracy than previous devices.

As an illustration, the radar installed in Padang City is able to detect waves up to a radius of 140 kilometers, while the potential source of the megathrust in the Mentawai Islands region is in the range of 200 kilometers.

"High waves can be monitored faster than using a tsunami gauge," he said.

The ability to detect earlier is considered important so that local governments and stakeholders can take anticipatory steps and rescue faster if a tsunami occurs.

However, both devices are currently still not fully operational because BMKG is still completing a number of technical stages, especially frequency arrangements.

BMKG targets that the early detection system can function optimally starting May 2026.

The installation of radars in Padang and Pariaman is based on the high threat of megathrust earthquakes on the west coast of Sumatra, especially those originating from the Mentawai zone.

Suadi emphasized that Padang City is one of the areas with the greatest potential for megathrust tsunami threats in West Sumatra.

BMKG data recorded around 500 thousand people living along the coastline of the region, so the existence of early detection tools is an important part of disaster mitigation efforts.