Technology Only a Support: BMKG Says Public Tsunami Preparedness Remains Priority

Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Teuku Faisal Fathani has stressed that no matter how sophisticated earthquake and tsunami monitoring technology becomes, it will not be able to save lives without preparedness and rapid response at the regional and coastal community levels. Speaking at the opening of a webinar commemorating 20 years since the Pangandaran earthquake and tsunami on Thursday, Faisal said Indonesia has undergone a major transformation in its tsunami mitigation system over the past two decades. He noted that the 2006 Pangandaran tragedy served as a crucial turning point in the development of the national early warning system. “Today, InaTEWS is supported by a network of seismograph sensors, hundreds of tide gauges, and high-performance computing systems capable of analysing tsunami potential and issuing early warnings in under three minutes,” he said. Nonetheless, Faisal reminded that technology is only one link in the safety chain. Early warning information must be understood and immediately acted upon through evacuation by local governments and the public. “No matter how advanced monitoring technology is, it will not be able to save lives if it is not connected to communities downstream,” he stressed. He explained that the main strength in the tsunami safety chain lies in public readiness within seconds of receiving a warning. Therefore, education, regular simulations, and cross-sector collaboration must be continuously strengthened. According to Faisal, BMKG, together with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), local governments, and academics, continues to promote tsunami-ready community programmes so that a culture of disaster awareness becomes deeply rooted in society. With such a culture, every citizen is expected to know the steps to save themselves when a tsunami threat occurs. Faisal assessed that future disaster challenges will not diminish. However, with inter-agency synergy and public participation, Indonesia can build stronger coastal resilience. “Let us use this commemoration to strengthen our commitment to the safety of future generations,” he said. He added that the experience of the past 20 years shows significant progress in tsunami monitoring and early warning systems, but the most important lesson remains the same: technology must go hand in hand with community preparedness so that casualties can be minimised when a disaster strikes.