PVMBG Says Special Institutions Need To Handle Earthquake-Longsor Anticipation Buildings

Head of PVMBG Hendra Gunawan gave a statement in Bandung. (ANTARA/Ricky Prayoga)

Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Hendra Gunawan in Bandung, Saturday, said that West Java is an area that has quite a lot of potential for earthquakes and landslides.

In Bandung, he stated that there is a need for special institutions or institutions to handle buildings that can anticipate earthquakes or landslides.

According to experts, said Hendra, if the house or building used by the Sundanese in the past used wood, it would be relatively more resistant and repair it more easily.

"In the future, not only the volcanology center, there are other centers that handle geotechnical problems in engineering, how to anticipate buildings in earthquake areas or landslide areas," said Hendra.

Furthermore, Hendra said that throughout 2023, 447 landslides occurred in West Java, including landslides, causing 105 people to die.

"There are three areas that are prone to ground movement, namely Sukabumi, Sumedang and Majalengka, which are caused by the area having creeping or slow ground movement and not realizing it," he said.

Based on PVMBG data, of the 447 incidents of ground movement, apart from causing 105 people to die, 35 people were also injured.

Then, 528 houses were damaged, 81 houses were destroyed, 167 houses were threatened, and 178 infrastructure was affected and 2,288 roads damaged.