The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has stated\nthat a potential tsunami threat exists for the East Coast of Kalimantan\nand Balikpapan Bay, East Kalimantan. Although the Kalimantan region has\nlong been considered relatively safe from major earthquake activity\ncompared to other parts of Indonesia, experts warn that the tsunami\nthreat must still be anticipated, especially in coastal areas with bay\ncharacteristics like Balikpapan.<\/p>\n
This was conveyed by the Head of the BMKG Balikpapan Geophysics\nStation, Rasmid. He explained that the East Kalimantan coastal region,\nwhich includes North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan,\ncould be impacted by tsunamis originating from seismic sources outside\nthe Kalimantan area.<\/p>\n
According to him, the threat could stem from tectonic activity in the\nNorth Sulawesi subduction zone, the Maluku double subduction zone, and\nthe Philippine subduction zone. When a large earthquake triggers a\ntsunami in these areas, the waves can propagate and reach the eastern\ncoast of Kalimantan Island.<\/p>\n
Specifically for East Kalimantan areas such as Balikpapan, Samarinda,\nand Bontang, BMKG also highlighted the potential for tsunamis triggered\nby submarine landslides due to earthquakes along the Sulawesi fault\nline. \"This phenomenon has occurred in several major earthquake events\nin Indonesia, causing large-scale displacement of seabed material and\ngenerating tsunami waves,\" he stated.<\/p>\n
Rasmid explained that the seabed contours in the Sulawesi Sea and\nMakassar Strait feature steep slopes. When an earthquake shakes the\nregion, submarine cliffs can collapse and trigger massive landslides\nthat significantly displace seawater.<\/p>\n
The resulting waves are estimated not to be very high when they reach\nthe Kalimantan coast. However, conditions can change when the waves\nenter a narrow bay like Balikpapan Bay. Inside the bay, waves can be\nreflected and amplified due to the superposition effect. This phenomenon\ncan increase wave amplitude, making the impact greater than in the open\nsea. \"The characteristics of Balikpapan Bay are one of the factors that\nneed attention in tsunami risk studies for East Kalimantan,\" Rasmid\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Beyond the potential natural threat, BMKG also highlighted the need\nto strengthen disaster mitigation systems. To date, Balikpapan and most\nof Kalimantan lack an integrated Early Warning System (EWS) for\ntsunamis. Currently, warning information from BMKG is relayed through\ncoordination with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and\nlocal governments before being disseminated to the public. This\nmechanism is considered to require strengthening so that emergency\ninformation can reach coastal residents more quickly and\neffectively.<\/p>\n
BMKG assesses that the provision of supporting facilities, from early\nwarning devices to emergency communication systems, is crucial to\nimproving community preparedness for potential tsunamis in the future.\n\"With the increasing development activities and growth of coastal areas\nin East Kalimantan, disaster education and strengthening mitigation\nsystems are strategic steps to minimise risk should a disaster occur at\nany time,\" he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bmkg-warns-of-potential-tsunami-threat-in-balikpapan-bay-1782049843", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }