Gunungkidul Into "Tsunami Ready", Early Warning System Is Standby In The Beach Area

Illustration. BMKG installed a water level on the island near Mount Anak Krakatau to monitor tsunami waves in the Sunda Strait due to the earthquake. (Antara-Sigid K)

DI YOGYAKARTA - A tsunami early warning system alias EWS will be installed at Gesing Beach, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region (DI) Yogyakarta.

"This year [2023], we are installing EWS at Gesing Beach," said the Executive Head of the Gunungkidul Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Purnomo, in Gunungkidul, Wednesday, January 14, at Atara's site.

Purnomo said that seven early warning systems have actually been installed along the coast in Gunungkidul. However, he said, four of them were damaged.

"EWS also helps the Baron Beach area where one of the EWS is damaged," he said.

Purnomo detailed that the damaged EWS were in the Wediombo, Krakal, Gesing, and Baron II areas. While the tsunami early warning system is still functioning at Sadeng Beach, Sepanjang, and Baron I.

"We have proposed that repairs be carried out immediately, because EWS is useful for public safety in the event of a tsunami," he said.

Purwono said the EWS was very important because the potential for an earthquake was on the south side.

In addition, he continued, EWS is for information related to high waves. Information from the EWS will be received by the BMKG and forwarded to districts/cities in areas with a potential for a tsunami or high waves.

On the other hand, residents on the south coast have also been given training regarding the potential for a tsunami, and evacuation routes have also been prepared on several beaches.

"Kemadang Village is one of the areas listed as Tsunami Ready by UNESCO-IOC. Gunungkidul, which has a beach length of more than 70 kilometers, must be balanced with sufficient EWS," he said.

A member of the FPRB Kemadang Village, Surisdiyanto, said that the Kemadang Village was confirmed as Tsunami Ready by UNESCO-IOC on Purus Beach, Padang City, West Sumatra, on 26 December 2022.

UNESCO-IOC has designated two areas in DI Yogyakarta as Tsunami Ready, namely Glagah in Kulon Progo and Kemadang in Gunungkidul.

"This international recognition does not mean only getting the title, but behind that there is a big responsibility that awaits, namely how to make the community and tourists on tsunami alert towards zero victims," ​​said Surisdiyanto.