20 Years Of Aceh Tsunami, BMKG Invites Countries In The Indian Ocean Region To Collaborate

Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati at the 2nd UNESCO IOC Global Tsunami Symposium in Aceh, Monday 11 November 2024 (Ist)

ACEH - Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, emphasized the importance of harmony and cohesiveness in global collaboration, especially for countries in the Indian Ocean region that are prone to tsunamis.

According to him, effective collaboration can help reduce the impact of earthquakes and tsunamis that can occur at any time.

Dwikorita invited these countries to follow the example of the Saman Dance from Aceh as a symbol of cohesiveness in working together. In his remarks at the 2nd UNESCO IOC Global Tsunami Symposium in Aceh, Monday 11 November, he said that this dance contains a philosophy of togetherness, unity, and sustainable harmony.

"The Saman dance teaches us about the importance of togetherness in facing big challenges. Like Saman dancers who move dynamically and harmoniously, we must also work quickly and precisely in disaster mitigation efforts," said Dwikorita.

In addition, the Saman Dance from Gayo, Aceh, recognized by UNESCO as World Intangible Cultural Heritage, shows how important it is to maintain harmony in collaboration.

Dwikorita also emphasized that the Indian Ocean is a tsunami-prone area, with the 2004 Aceh tsunami as a valuable lesson. The disaster killed more than 227 thousand people, signaling an effective early warning urgency.

"We must build the capacity of all countries to ensure that people can respond to the tsunami quickly and appropriately," he continued.

In this convention, Dwikorita hopes that countries in the Indian Ocean region can work closely together, building an early warning system that depends not only on earthquakes, but also on other factors that can trigger a tsunami.

UNESCO-IOC Executive Secretary, Vidar Helgesen, added that through the 20th anniversary of this tsunami, UNESCO and BMKG affirmed their commitment to strengthening global resilience to the tsunami threat.

"We are committed to protecting lives by ensuring every vulnerable coastline is equipped with the knowledge, equipment, and systems needed to deal with the tsunami," he said.

Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of Aceh, Safrizal ZA, in his remarks at the event emphasized the importance of this oversight as a global step to strengthen tsunami disaster mitigation.

"Tsunami 2004 reminds us of the powerful natural forces, but also inspires global collaboration in improving early warning systems and disaster mitigation," he said.

Safrizal hopes that this oversight can produce concrete recommendations that are beneficial to all parties, as well as make Aceh a center for knowledge development related to tsunami mitigation.