Simulating Earthquakes At SMPN 50 East Jakarta, BPBD Jakarta: Responding To The Issue Of Potential Megathrust Earthquakes

Dozens of students and teachers conducted earthquake simulations at SMPN 50 Jakarta, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, Thursday (19/9/2024). BETWEEN/Syaiful Judge

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) held a simulation of the earthquake at SMPN 50 Jakarta, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, Thursday 19 September.

Head of the DKI Jakarta BPBD Preparedness Sub-Corruption Group, Embai Suhaini, said that this activity was in the context of training the Disaster Safe Education Unit (SPAB) at the school level.

"At the same time to respond to the issue of the potential for a megathrust earthquake (large-scale) which is increasingly widespread, so that school students are more sensitive in dealing with disasters, especially earthquakes," he said.

According to him, this simulation is a lesson so they will know at the time of the earthquake, what they will do.

"So, increasing capacity capacity capacity for students is very important," said Embai.

He said this series of activities began by providing training and socialization related to natural disasters including earthquakes to students and teachers at schools.

In the training, students and teachers were introduced about various kinds of disasters, how to deal with disasters to carry out evacuations.

The following day, students and teachers also practice activities that have been socialized regarding the disaster.

"So, there are people who become disaster officers at school so that during the simulation, they are expected to be orderly, there are people in charge of sounding sirens, evacuating and knowing where to go. That is what is accustomed to our children. The point is, this can reduce the impact of disaster risk," he said.

Embai said this activity would still be carried out for other schools. This year it is targeted that 96 schools in Gambir and Kramat Jati sub-districts will receive similar activities.

This activity is the result of a collaboration between BPBD DKI and USAID-KUAT (City for Tough Action) and the DKI Jakarta Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (FPRB).

USAID Project Director KUAT, Bill Marsden said the need for collaboration and commitment from various parties to increase school preparedness in dealing with earthquakes.

"Collaboration of various parties, one of which is the DKI Jakarta FPRB, is needed to be carried out regularly, at least once a year to carry out simulations to deal with earthquake risk," he said.

Meanwhile, the Principal of SMPN 50 Jakarta, Syamsul Hadri, said that this activity was attended by a total of 300 students and students.

He also welcomed this earthquake simulation because it can provide sensitivity to students to know when facing disasters.

"In this school there is an activity of mobilization before entering, so this simulation will be strengthened in this control activity. Maybe once a week or once a month each class will appear," he said.

SPAB is a program initiated by the Ministry of Education and Culture to increase the resource capacity in education units in tackling and reducing disaster risk.