BMKG: Untrue Opinion Extreme Weather-Earthquake Caused Disaster At Amurang Beach, South Minahasa

Disasters due to abrasion of the Amurang coast tore down people's houses/ANTARA

SULUT - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) asserted that the opinion that extreme weather and earthquakes caused the Amurang Beach disaster in South Minahasa, North Sulawesi, is not true.

Based on the analysis of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency Team, it was stated that the cause of the disaster was another factor.

"The disaster that occurred at Amurang Beach was not due to extreme weather, extreme climate, or seismic activity. However, it was caused by other factors," said BMKG Deputy for Meteorology Guswanto in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, June 20.

As for the South Minahasa Disaster related to the collapsed bridge and the collapse of a number of houses in the Amurang Beach area, further research will be carried out by involving various experts and related ministries or institutions.

He detailed that when the disaster occurred on June 14, the rainfall was recorded at 5 mm in Tumpaan UPTD and 3 mm in East Amurang in the Light Rain Category, which was reinforced by weather radar imagery and weather satellites at 13.30-14.00 WITA.

Then in terms of seismicity, there was no earthquake activity around Amurang Beach which triggered the collapse of bridges and the collapse of several houses.

Meanwhile, from the aspect of wave height, it is in the low category, based on the BMKG's Forecast of Wave height on June 14, 2022, which is around 0.75 m.

Guswanto said BMKG together with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), cross-sectoral institutions and interdisciplinary experts continue to examine in depth the causes of the disaster at Amurang Beach, South Minahasa.

"The head of BNPB has said that he will conduct further research with experts for investigations," he said.

Currently, the Amurang Beach area is in an emergency response status. There are community concerns over the movement of land that can endanger residents.

During the emergency response, said Guswanto, BMKG tried to give peace to the community by installing a number of portable devices, both Portable AWS and Portable Seismographs. The tactical tool serves to observe local weather and seismic activity.

"Both AWS Portable and Portable Seismographs are used for the emergency response period, they are local to calm people who are still worried about monitoring if there is moving ground," he said.