Proactive Approach to Disasters

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Children, who were displaced by landslides, give a roar of approval after they were invited to play and learn by volunteers at a shelter in Cimapag hamlet, Sirnaresmi village, Cisolok district, Sukabumi regency, West Java, on Saturday.

We are proud that Indonesian studies on active faults in Java have been published in international journals. We appreciate the researchers for their perseverance.

The study of Endra Gunawan and Sri Widiantoro was recently published in the Journal of Geodynamics, while a separate study by Mudrik R. Daryono, Danny H. Natawidjaja, Benjamin Sapiie, and Phil Cummins was published in the January 2019 edition of Techtonophysics.

Their discipline was often underappreciated in the past. These days, however, along with the increasing literacy of the general public in natural disasters, especially earthquakes and tsunamis, their knowledge is vital. Java has a number of active fault lines that could trigger massive earthquakes. We need to emphasize that these active fault lines run under two densely populated areas in southern Jakarta and northern Bandung.

As this daily reported on Tuesday (1/7/2019), these studies must be taken into serious consideration for proper disaster mitigation efforts in the future. We urge the administrations of regions that exist on active fault lines to pay special attention to this matter.

These studies on tectonic plates do not provide information on when the plates could move to trigger earthquakes. To date, science has been unable to predict when earthquakes will occur. However, knowledge on the activities of fault lines in dilation and compression should be enough reason to prepare ahead.

We must be wise in our anticipatory measures. The information must be taken as warning signs that we must monitor closely. We believe that it is best to prepare early and thoroughly in the light of potential disasters.

These geological signs require more urgent attention, considering that fault lines exist under densely populated areas. Cities like Jakarta, Semarang and Surabaya are among those at risk. Without intending to spreading fear or discomforting people, we must roll out preparations while we still have the time. As the old saying goes, it is better safe than sorry, and there is no use crying over spilt milk.

Massively funded spatial replanning is necessary to mitigate disasters. Speaking realistically in the context of spatial replanning, some cities may need to be moved. The structural strength of many buildings must be reevaluated. We believe that such measures and efforts will reduce material and human losses in the long run.

Herein lies a dilemma. The danger signs for earthquakes are subtle, unseen and markedly different than, say, volcanic eruptions, which are much more visible. We need to accept what our scientists have said in the scientific journals as critical information to help us prepare steps towards mitigation.

It may be more difficult to convince local governments in Java than those in Sumatra, as earthquakes are relatively rare in Java. However, as we read in the news the other day, the rarity of earthquakes in Java, especially Jakarta, may actually mean that the earth is gathering energy. The longer we are without earthquakes, the stronger the eventual earthquake may be.

Our experts study and gain their knowledge from studying nature so that we can learn from their wisdom.