Ministry Of PUPR Jamin Kuwil Dam In North Sulawesi Tahan Guncangan Earthquake

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has confirmed that the construction of the Kuwil Kawangkoan dam in North Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi is earthquake resistant.

"All earthquakes were recorded and recorded, then we issued a standard national earthquake map. So the Kuwil Dam guarantee is safe for Manado City," said Director of Dams and Lakes, Ministry of PUPR, Airlangga Mardjono after the initial filling ceremony of the Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam in North Minahasa, Saturday, November 26.

He said North Sulawesi is a "ring of fire" area so that almost all regions have the potential for such earthquakes.

Therefore, according to him, at the planning stage there are figures or coefficients that are taken into account, even the selection of the type itself has taken into account the seismicity factor.

The PUPR Ministry has also installed an "accelerograph" or "strong motion seismograph" equipment capable of detecting earthquakes at the dam radius.

"So what kind of strength, how can the direction of the propagation be detected. So if there is 'warning' and it is felt that it endangers the dam, there will be direct steps for an emergency response plan or a pattern of cooperation operations carried out," he said.

He added that later the parties would also immediately inform the public if there was a "warning" that endangers the safety of the dam.

"So the reference is the latest national earthquake map, God willing, it will still be able to withstand (the earthquake)," he said.

After starting construction in 2016, the Kuwil Kawangkoan Dam in North Minahasa Regency finally entered the planting stage.

Until the completion of this project at the end of 2022, the dam, which is planned to be inaugurated by President Joko Widodo, is estimated to cost Rp1.9 trillion, said Airlangga Mardjono.