Issues regarding the potential for megathrust earthquakes have\nresurfaced as a trending topic on social media. The Geological Agency of\nthe Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) explained that a\nmegathrust is a meeting zone between two tectonic plates, where one\nplate subducts beneath another.<\/p>\n
Supartoyo, a Senior Principal Earth Investigator at the Geological\nAgency of the Ministry of ESDM, stated that megathrust zones have the\npotential to be sources of earthquakes with magnitudes reaching 8 or\nmore. \u201cSo, a megathrust is actually a zone, a meeting place between two\ndifferent types of plates, where one plate subducts beneath the other.\nThe meeting point at the upper part, with a depth of less than 50\nkilometres, is what is called a Megathrust,\u201d Supartoyo said, as quoted\nfrom the Geological Agency\u2019s Instagram account on Monday\n(28\/09\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to him, the term megathrust itself is derived from two\nwords: \u2018mega\u2019, meaning large, and \u2018thrust\u2019, meaning thrust fault. Thus,\na megathrust is an earthquake source capable of producing earthquakes\nwith a magnitude of 8 or higher.<\/p>\n
Supartoyo revealed that the issue regarding megathrusts is not new.\nDiscussions regarding the potential for megathrust earthquakes have\nrepeatedly emerged since the 2004 Aceh earthquake and tsunami. \u201cI\nremember it initially started after the 2004 Aceh earthquake and\ntsunami. From 2005 until now, it has recurred repeatedly and always\ncauses panic. Therefore, what is needed is an increase in public\nunderstanding and knowledge regarding the Megathrust,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Based on Indonesia\u2019s geotectonic maps, megathrust zones are spread\nacross several regions in Indonesia. These include the west of Sumatra,\nsouth of Java, south of Bali, Nusa Tenggara, northern Sulawesi,\nnortheast Sulawesi, and the northeast of Halmahera.<\/p>\n
These areas are known to possess megathrust zones capable of\nproducing earthquakes with magnitudes of 8 or more. Notable large-scale\nseismic events related to these zones include the 2004 Aceh earthquake\nand the 2005 Nias earthquake, which reached a magnitude of 8.5.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, these are the areas suspected of having Megathrust zones capable\nof producing earthquake magnitudes of 8 or greater than 8. Examples\ninclude what happened in Aceh in 2004, and also what occurred on Nias\nIsland in 2005 with a magnitude of 8.5,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Supartoyo emphasised that earthquakes cannot yet be\npredicted with absolute accuracy, specifically regarding when they will\noccur, their exact location, or their precise magnitude. \u201cAlthough\nseveral methods aimed at this are being implemented, the results are not\nyet encouraging. However, through science and technology, we can\nidentify areas prone to earthquakes and tsunamis, which the Geological\nAgency of the Ministry of ESDM refers to as Earthquake Disaster Prone\nAreas (KRBG) and Tsunami Disaster Prone Areas,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-explains-viral-social-media-concerns-regarding-megathrust-1790574952", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }