BMKG Natural Disaster Study For East Java Panics Indonesian Netizens

Another social media denizen identifying herself as Ria Jessica said “[I hope] Pasuruan and the nearby areas, as well as the rest of East Java will be protected by Allah, Amen and best regards from a migrant worker in the Middle East.”

Taking precautions

BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation head Daryono attempted to ease public concerns. “The public has no need to fear from a tsunami [and earthquake] striking East Java,” he said to Kompas.com.

“The worst case scenario was made to design public safety and mitigation measures such as quake-proof schools, installing warning sirens, installing information gathering and tsunami warning equipment, and tracing tsunami prone areas. The information was not made to spread mass panic.”

Also read: 6.2 Richter Scale Earthquake Strikes East Java, Other Indonesian Provinces

Nonetheless, Daryono admitted that BMKG, along with other institutions or individuals, does not know when or where natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis will strike. He also highlighted the difference between potential and prediction.

“Potential emphasizes on the location and scale of the threat. Prediction is the first two factors as well as when [the natural] disaster will happen,” Daryono maintained.

“As for potential, [the tsunami and earthquake] can happen anytime, from the next few years, decades or even hundreds of years. Potential natural disasters can happen in Sumatra, the rest of Java, Bali, and the islands of Lombok and Sumba, not just East Java.”

A dissenting opinion

However, Indonesian Institute of Sciences or LIPI earthquake expert Danny Hilman Natawijaya is skeptical of BMKG’s findings. “The BMKG review is not valid academically until they publish their findings,” he said.