BNPB-BMKG Asks West Sulawesi People Not Provoked By Hoaxes To Leave Mamaju

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo (Merry Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo asked the Mamuju community not to be consumed by fake news or false information (hoaks) about the 6.2 magnitude earthquake in West Sulawesi (Sulbar).

"Do not easily believe information that cannot be justified," Doni said in an official statement received by VOI, Sunday, January 17.

As is well known, there are rumors that require people to leave Mamuju because there will be a bigger aftershock.

Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati also reacted strongly to the hoax.

The government, he stressed, has never asked the people to leave Mamuju. The information released by BMKG is a public appeal to stay away from collapsed buildings. According to Dwikorita, this information must be handled well and calmly.

"BMKG has never said anything like that. What we urge is to stay away from collapsed buildings. Stay away from slopes that are prone to landslides and quite far from the coast," he said.

Previously, BMKG had released information about the potential for aftershocks. Even so, his party confirmed that the strength would not be as big as the second earthquake or mainshock as happened on Friday, January 15, in the early hours.

Furthermore, BMKG asked the public to remain calm but alert in anticipation of the potential for aftershocks.

"We need to be aware of the aftershocks, but they will not reach a magnitude of 8.2. Approximately as big as yesterday (magnitude 6.2), that is the biggest. But it will be much lower than yesterday," said Dwikorita.