Acting Governor Of West Java Asks Local Government To Re-check Building Structures For Earthquake-Prone Areas

Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin when giving a statement at the West Java DPRD building, Thursday (4/1/2024). BETWEEN/Ricky Prayoga.

BANDUNG - Acting Governor of West Java Beyxi Machmudin asked the city and district governments in West Java to re-check the condition of buildings in areas prone to earthquake disasters.

The reason, said Bey, West Java is an area prone to earthquakes, so that all regions in West Java anticipate the possibility of natural disasters, including earthquakes.

"The West Java disaster map has been prepared by the Geological Agency, there is a red zone in it, meaning that we who live in West Java must be vigilant. We with the Regency Government have asked to re-check buildings in disaster-prone areas," Bey said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, January 4.

The re-check, he said, was to anticipate the impact of the earthquake, and he also requested that the structure of buildings in vulnerable areas be adjusted.

Bey gave an example, Japan, which is located in an active seismic location, makes the country an earthquake-prone country, so that the local government is very strict in terms of licensing policies for building buildings.

In addition, Japan, which last experienced an earthquake on January 1, 2024, requires all buildings to undergo routine safety checks every 10 years, to ensure they remain earthquake resistant and safe to live in.

"Also the building structure must adjust to conditions. Like in Japan, the earthquake but the building remains strong," said Bey.

An earthquake rocked a number of areas in West Java recently, with the most attention grabbing being several earthquakes in Sumedang on Sunday (31/12/2023), and Monday (1/1/2024) which caused about a thousand houses to be damaged with various levels of damage.

Regarding the damaged building in Sumedang Regency, Bey said it would be rebuilt with an earthquake-resistant structure.

"So we and the Regency Government have asked to re-check. At least like in Sumedang, the construction of damaged houses will adjust to the earthquake-resistant structure," he said.