Indonesia, ranked among the top 35 countries for natural disaster risk, is actively preparing for potential megathrust earthquakes that could trigger devastating tsunamis.
Head of Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, has said that megathrust earthquakes would likely occur in two zones, the Sunda Strait and around the Mentawai-Siberut islands. Both are known as earthquake-prone areas in the Indian Ocean that have latent potential for hundreds of years for seismic gaps.
"It is just a matter of time. Although we still cannot predict when the natural disaster will occur, we need to continue to talk about this issue so that people can be prepared for megathrusts," Karnawati told reporters.
A megathrust is a very large earthquake that occurs in a subduction zone, resulting in a magnitude of 8 to 9.
She said that the BMKG had also mapped 13 zones in Indonesia with the highest potential to be hit by megathrust earthquakes. Four of Indonesia's five big islands, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Papua, are in the red zones, with a minimum potential of magnitude-7.8 on the Richter scale.
A resident cleans a car that was badly damaged by the rubble of a house after a magnitude-5 earthquake hit Cibereum Village, Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia, September 18, 2024. /CFP
Indonesia is one of the countries prone to earthquakes, including megathrusts, due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it frequently impacted by seismic activity and vulnerable to earthquakes.
Historically, Indonesia experienced a devastating earthquake reaching magnitude-9.3 in Aceh province in December 2004, which triggered a deadly tsunami. The disaster killed at least 220,000 people and caused more than 800,000 people to lose their homes, according to data from the country's disaster mitigation authorities.
Recently, some regions in Indonesia reported a series of earthquakes. On Tuesday, a magnitude-6.1 earthquake hit Gorontalo province, damaging mosques and schools. Last Thursday, Maluku province was jolted by a magnitude-4.6 earthquake.
According to BMKG data, there have been five devastating earthquakes since September 1. Besides those in Gorontalo and Maluku provinces, earthquakes also occurred in Gianyar, Bali, as well as in Bandung and Garut regencies, West Java.
A resident stands in front of a house that was badly damaged after a magnitude-5 earthquake hit Cibereum Village, Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia, September 18, 2024. /CFP
Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has taken anticipatory measures to avoid, or at least mitigate, damaging impacts of megathrusts. The steps included installing many early warning sensors for tsunamis and ensuring the tools and all communication systems work well.
The agency also increased awareness campaigns in local communities on how to prepare for earthquakes and utilize evacuation routes and tsunami shelters.
"BNPB, in collaboration with regional governments as well as police and military institutions, holds a simulation of what we should do when the megathrust disaster occurs and what the community needs to do when it happens," Lieutenant General Suharyanto, head of BNPB, said on Tuesday.
He hoped megathrust earthquakes would not happen in the very near future but emphasized that all people should remain cautious and be well-prepared.