West Java to Set Up Command Centres in Two Areas in Preparation for Lembang Fault

Bandung (ANTARA) – The West Java Provincial Government is preparing emergency command centres in Cirebon and Purwakarta to ensure disaster-response coordination and government operations can continue if an earthquake caused by activity along the Lembang Fault has a major impact on Greater Bandung.

West Java Regional Secretary Herman Suryatman told reporters in Bandung on Wednesday that the two areas had been selected on the basis of an initial assessment indicating they were relatively safe from the fault’s direct effects.

“Based on the initial assessment, Cirebon and Purwakarta are relatively safer from the potential impact of the Lembang Fault. The Governor has asked for simple command centres to be prepared there,” he said.

Herman explained that West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi had ordered the facilities to be set up in provincial government buildings in the two areas.

The facilities are expected to include monitoring equipment, supporting applications and an operations room to manage disaster response if the government centre in Bandung becomes inoperable.

According to Herman, the provincial government has several offices across the region, including in Bandung, Cirebon, Purwakarta, Bogor and Garut. The availability of these buildings is being considered as part of plans to ensure government operations can continue during a major disaster.

“West Java has several government offices, including in Bandung, Cirebon, Purwakarta, Bogor and Garut. We need to ensure the necessary supporting facilities are available in the event of a disaster, including heavy equipment and other supplies,” he said.

To provide monitoring equipment, application systems and information technology infrastructure, the West Java Government is preparing a budget proposal to be discussed with the regional legislative council during the drafting of the 2027 regional budget.

Alongside preparing alternative command centres, the provincial government has stressed the importance of educating and informing the public about earthquake mitigation, particularly in areas potentially affected by activity along the Lembang Fault.

Herman said public preparedness was vital to reducing casualties in the event of a disaster.

“Equally important is educating and informing the public about how to save themselves when a disaster occurs. At a minimum, people should be able to save themselves, their families and others around them,” he said.