Petik Gempa-Tsunami Palu 2018, BMKG Emphasizes The Importance Of Disaster Information Distribution Speed

The condition of the Floating Mosque that collapsed into the sea due to the 2018 earthquake and tsunami at Kampung Lere Beach, Palu, Central Sulawesi, Monday, April 24, 2023. (ANTARA PHOTO-Mohamad Hamzah)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has increased the understanding of the distribution of information on early warning potential earthquakes and tsunamis in Palu City involving local seismological-community.

Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, said that the effort was carried out by holding a communication test exercise with the introduction of earthquake monitoring and detection technology, analysis of modeling results, multi-sector communication flow, to quick response actions and simulation of countermeasures.

"All of this is important as the results of the evaluation of the earthquake and tsunami incident that hit Palu six years ago so that information is precise and quickly reached, the public can respond quickly," Daryono said at the opening of the training entitled "BMKG-JICA Palu Communication Transmission Exercise" online which was followed in Jakarta, Wednesday, September 25, was confiscated by Antara.

He explained that the training took place in Palu City on September 25-26. According to him, the speed of data processing, distribution of information and public responses are one of the important lessons learned from the earthquake and tsunami on September 28, 2018.

The results of the BMKG team's analysis along with other experts found that the 7.5 magnitude earthquake was centered on land with a sliding mechanism, but triggered a tsunami, liquefaction, landslide and rock collapse that came 2-3 minutes after the earthquake tremors occurred.

"At that time there was also a delay in the distribution of tsunami early warning information (PDT-3) for five minutes due to technical limitations of the InaTEWS system," he said.

BMKG assesses that the earthquake and tsunami phenomena that hit Palu City and its surroundings should be used as evaluation material for seismic monitoring officers as well as educational materials for the community to be better prepared to face similar disaster risks later.