Local Governments And Maumere Residents Now Have Earthquake And Tsunami Maps

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - BMKG Kupang Geophysics Station socialized a tsunami hazard map and an earthquake in Maumere City, the capital city of Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

"We are conducting socialization of Tsunami Hazard Maps and tectonic earthquake microzones so that there is coordination and synergy between parties and strengthen the capacity and capability of local governments, related parties, and the community in readiness to prevent losses due to earthquakes and tsunamis in the Maumere area," said Head of Kupang Geophysics Station Margiono when contacted from Labuan Bajo, Tuesday, December 6.

BMKG assesses that Maumere is one of the areas prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. The area was recorded to have faced an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 which caused a tsunami on Flores Island on December 12, 1992.

Therefore, BMKG socializes the Tsunami Hazard Map which includes a danger zone as well as an estimated arrival time and tsunami height based on modeling the worst-case scenario as the basis for evacuation planning to determining temporary evacuation sites and final evacuation sites.

"When the tsunami arrived in Maumere City, it was only three minutes with a height of three meters. So an understanding of the good tsunami time can help residents to carry out self-evacuation properly," Margiono said as quoted by Antara.

Information regarding the Tsunami Hazard Map was conveyed to all elements of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) of Sikka Regency to the sub-district and village heads.

BMKG recommends local governments to build and strengthen earthquake and tsunami mitigation systems, including preparing routes, signs, and evacuation sites as well as command centers and educating residents to carry out mitigation efforts.

In addition, Margiono said, local governments can use the Tsunami Hazard Map as input in preparing spatial planning plans in the Sikka Regency area.