Learning From Earthquakes In Cianjur, School Buildings To Hospitals In Jakarta Are Recommended To Be Earthquake-Resilient

Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi met with the Head of BNPB Suharyanto. (doc. BNPB Public Relations)

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono met with the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto to coordinate regarding the anticipation of the impact of disasters in Jakarta, one of which was an earthquake.

According to Heru, Jakarta must learn from the earthquake in Cianjur, West Java. An earthquake measuring 5.6 magnitudes on November 21 resulted in more than 600 people dying and destroying more than 60 thousand houses.

"He (Head of BNPB) suggested learning from other cities, where many disasters and causing considerable losses," said Heru at Graha BNPB, East Jakarta, Tuesday, December 27.

Suharyanto also suggested that public and government-owned buildings in Jakarta be designed as earthquake-resistant buildings, ranging from schools, hospitals, to government buildings.

"The head of BNPB suggested prevention. For example, for school planning, hospitals, and government-owned infrastructure or buildings, the concept must be, for example, above 7 SR (scalar richter). So, it is designed like that, so that prevention can be planned," said Heru.

The step that the DKI Provincial Government has taken to anticipate these natural disasters is to rehabilitate schools with buildings designed to be earthquake resistant to 7.5 SR.

"This is a note, next year there will be several schools that will be fully rehabilitated. To anticipate future disasters, especially earthquakes, it means that they are designed to withstand the earthquake. Talking about the concept of 2022 to 2044, it will be lowered again every 5 years and 5 years," explained Heru.

Continuing, the Head of the DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Isnawa Adji said, his party will coordinate with the DKI Jakarta Investment and One Stop Integrated Service (DPMPTSP) to add requirements for applying for new building permits that are resistant to earthquakes.

"New schools in Jakarta, for example, must also include elements of earthquake resistance. This is in collaboration with PTSP and others. In essence, in the future we want Jakarta to have toughness in dealing with disasters," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of BNPB, Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, explained that DKI Jakarta is one of the areas that has the potential for disaster risk to be quite considered, such as high rainfall. This is also related to the potential for annual flood disasters, so they must be handled appropriately and responsively.

"Although there is no volcano either (in Jakarta), based on historical experience there are also several potentials related to earthquakes. This also needs to be addressed by us to determine the steps we must take, especially in the prevention phase," he said.