Viral Claims of Kendeng Fault Triggering M 7 Quake: BMKG Provides Explanation

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has addressed viral social media posts claiming that the Kendeng Fault could trigger a magnitude 7 earthquake in Java. The agency confirmed the potential exists but urged the public not to panic.

Ricko Kardoso, head of the BMKG Geophysics Station Class III in Malang, stated that the Kendeng Fault is indeed capable of generating a magnitude 7 earthquake. He explained that in the 2024 National Earthquake Study Centre (PuSGeN), the fault has been grouped with the Baribis and Semarang faults under the name Java Back-arc Thrust.

‘The targeted magnitude in the 2024 PuSGeN, as a worst-case scenario for each active fault segment, varies from magnitude six to seven,’ Ricko said.

Despite the potential, he urged residents not to panic over the figures but instead to improve their capacity for disaster mitigation. He stressed the importance of understanding what steps to take before, during, and after an earthquake.

‘Because, once again, until now earthquakes cannot be predicted precisely in terms of when, where, and what magnitude if the earthquake has not yet occurred,’ he added.

Ricko noted that the Kendeng Fault zone stretches approximately 300 kilometres across the northern part of Java, from south of Semarang in Central Java to East Java, including near Bojonegoro. The fault is divided into six main segments: Demak, Purwodadi, Cepu, Blumbang (crossing Lamongan), Surabaya (crossing the heart of Surabaya city), and Waru (crossing Sidoarjo).