Deputy Speaker of the People\u2019s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari\nMoerdijat has stressed the importance of building public awareness\nregarding disaster mitigation education. She stated that this is part of\nefforts to increase preparedness in facing disaster threats in the\ncountry.<\/p>\n
She made the remarks during her speech at an online discussion themed\n\u2018Increased Seismic Activity in the Pacific: Implications and\nAnticipatory Steps for Indonesia\u2019, held by the Denpasar 12 Discussion\nForum on Wednesday (15\/7\/2026). The discussion, moderated by the Expert\nTeam of the MPR Deputy Speaker Tantri Moerdopo, featured Analysist for\nDisaster at the Directorate of Logistics and Equipment Optimisation,\nDeputy for Logistics and Equipment of the National Disaster Management\nAgency (BNPB) Maryanto; Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis at the\nMeteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Wijayanto; and\nSenior Tsunami Researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency\n(BRIN) Widjo Kongko.<\/p>\n
\u2018Anticipatory measures against disaster threats in the country must\nbe carried out comprehensively, ranging from infrastructure\nstrengthening, technology optimisation, to community preparedness,\u2019\nLestari Moerdijat said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
According to Lestari, entering mid-2026, seismic activity along the\nPacific Ring of Fire has shown very high dynamics, marked by a series of\nlarge-magnitude earthquakes that have struck several regions and\nthreatened public safety. She argued that the government must also take\nanticipatory steps by preparing infrastructure and improving public\nunderstanding of how to deal with the impacts of disasters through\nvarious efforts. Furthermore, she encouraged the strengthening of\ncross-sector collaboration to build community preparedness.<\/p>\n
\u2018I hope that the ongoing seismic activity can be anticipated through\nan adaptive community resilience mechanism,\u2019 she explained.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Wijayanto revealed that throughout 2025, there were 43,439\nearthquake events recorded in the country. These earthquake events\ncannot be predicted, so community preparedness is essential in facing\nsuch threats. According to Wijayanto, earthquake sources in the country\noriginate from two events: plate subduction (megathrust) and active\nfault lines.<\/p>\n
\u2018There are 14 megathrust segments in Indonesia that have the\npotential to cause earthquakes with a magnitude above 8.5,\u2019 he said.\nTherefore, Wijayanto stated that anticipatory measures must be\nconsistently implemented by utilising disaster-prone maps, strengthening\ndisaster information systems, and building disaster mitigation\nstrategies that are easy for the public to understand. \u2018The impacts of\nan earthquake can include landslides, liquefaction, tsunamis, rockfalls,\nand other secondary effects that can cause casualties,\u2019 he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Widjo Kongko revealed that 60 per cent of tsunamis are\ntriggered by tectonic earthquakes and 22 per cent by volcanic\nearthquakes. According to Widjo Kongko, over a period of 300 years\n(1700-2022), there were 13 major tsunami events in the Pacific Ocean\nregion that impacted Indonesia. Indonesia has been utilising the\nIndonesia Tsunami Early Warning System (Ina TEWS) since 11 November\n2008; the tool can issue a tsunami warning in less than three minutes so\nthat the public can immediately evacuate.<\/p>\n
The challenge currently faced by Indonesia is that 60 per cent of its\ncities are located in tsunami-prone coastal areas. Widjo Kongko\nemphasised that public understanding of hazards and risks, as well as a\nrobust early warning system, must be a serious concern for all parties\nas part of efforts to build community preparedness for disasters.\n\u2018Additionally, important areas such as coal-fired power plants,\nindustrial zones, and tourism sites are also located on the coast,\u2019\nWidjo concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-deputy-speaker-calls-for-greater-public-awareness-on-disaster-mitigation-1784134289", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }