BMKG: Multi-segment Earthquake Phenomenon Has the Potential to Happen in Indonesia

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JAKARTA - Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, warned that earthquakes caused by multi-segment faults such as those in Turkey in early February have the potential to occur in Indonesia.

"The fault has a similarity to the fault in Turkey, namely the Cimandiri fault. This fault has the potential for a strong earthquake which is triggered by active multi-segment fault activity within the Cimandiri fault zone", Dwikorita said in the National Coordination Meeting for Disaster Management in Jakarta reported by ANTARA, Thursday, March 2.

He explained that in the Cimandiri fault zone, especially the cities of Pelabuhan Ratu and Sukabumi, there are segments of Cimandiri, Nyalindung-Cibeber and Rajamandala which trend northeast-southwest and continue to Pelabuhan Ratu bay.

"The main Cimandiri fault zone is very close to the Citarik fault and Cipamingkis fault lines, which are all active. Strong earthquakes can trigger each other in this kind of active and complex tectonic zone", he said.

In other areas, he continued, also the Palu Koro fault segment in Central Sulawesi. The potential for strong earthquakes triggered by the activity of multi-segment active faults that are adjacent or intersect can occur in the Palu Koro fault zone.

"In this zone there are segments of Palu, Saluki, Moa and Kuleana which are heading south-north, continuing to Palu Bay", said Dwikorita.

The main Palu-Kuleana fault segment zone is adjacent to the Palolo A and Palolo B fault segments, all of which are active fault segments.

Then, the multi-segment Kumering-Semangko fault in southern Sumatra. In this zone, especially in the cities of Bandar Lampung and Kotaagung near the North Kumering, South Kumering, West Semangko and East Semangko segments trending northwest-southeast and continuing to Semangko Bay.

"The Semangko main fault zone is near the Semangko Graben fault line and the Ujung Kulon fault which are all active faults", he explained.

Apart from that, he continued, a multi-segment earthquake also has the potential to occur in the city of Banda Aceh. In this zone, there is a segment of Aceh, Seulimeum which is trending northwest-southeast. The end of the segment continues to the sea.

This main fault zone is adjacent to the Pidie Jaya, Batee, Tripa, and Peusangan fault lines which are all active fault lines.

"So it's not just one fault, but around it, there are other faults where there is concern that the movement of one of these faults could jump trigger movement in other fault segments", he explained.

Dwikorita said the multi-segment earthquake phenomenon like the one in Turkey gave a warning to people in Indonesia to be vigilant.

"For that, we also have to immediately strengthen the earthquake disaster mitigation system", he said.