BMKG Urges Residents Of Majene-Mamuju To Evacuate To A Safe Place Instead Of The Post-earthquake Exodus

Communities affected by the earthquake in Malunda and Ulumanda Districts, Majene Regency, West Sulawesi Province (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati emphasized that his party had never instructed the people of Mamuju-Majene, West Sulawesi (Sulbar) to exodus outside the region.

BMKG appealed to self-evacuate to a safer place after the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred on Friday, January 15.

"BMKG only issued an appeal regarding the evacuation directions to save oneself, not the exodus to leave Mamuju," said Dwikorita in an electronic message reported by Antara, Monday, January 18.

According to him, information as if the BMKG instructed residents to leave Mamuju as soon as possible was not true. The BMKG appeal was given considering that aftershocks can still occur as usual after a strong earthquake.

For this reason, the community is asked to be aware of the possibility of aftershocks with significant strength.

BMKG also appealed to people whose living quarters had been damaged or partially damaged, not to be occupied anymore, because if a significant aftershock occurs, it can be more severely damaged, and may even collapse.

In addition, residents living on the coast are also advised to immediately evacuate independently from the coast in the event of a strong earthquake on the coast, considering that the Majene coast had a tsunami in 1969.

Independent evacuation is carried out by moving away from the coast immediately after feeling a strong earthquake on the beach as a tsunami early warning, without waiting for the issuance of an early warning by the related parties.

"Independent evacuation as soon as possible is effective in saving coastal communities if the source of the strong earthquake that occurs is near the coast, because the golden time for tsunami rescue is very short," said Dwikorita.

Likewise, people who live in hilly areas or who pass roads on the edge of steep cliffs, need to be vigilant because significant aftershocks can trigger landslides and rock falls.

This condition is also risky, especially at this time of the rainy season which can facilitate the process of landslides because the conditions of the hilly slopes are wet and unstable after being shaken by two strong earthquakes.

"We ask people not to believe in hoaxes, but to continue to monitor and follow official information from official institutions such as BMKG and directions from BNBP / BPBD," added Dwikorita.