VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the countries prone to earthquakes. An earthquake with 6.9 on the Richter scale, whose vibrations were felt by the people of Jakarta and surrounding areas, shook a number of areas in West Java, Banten and Lampung on Friday night (2/8).Initially, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.4. According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), there were 6 people killed and more than 1,000 people displaced.Why does Indonesia often experience earthquakes and tsunamis? It is well known that Indonesia is surrounded by three tectonic plates which are constantly moving, namely the Indo-Australian plate, the Eurasian plate and the Pacific plate. The Indo-Australian Plate moves relatively northward and infiltrates the Eurasian plate. Meanwhile, the Pacific plate moves relative to the west. The lane meeting point is in the sea so that if there is a large earthquake with shallow depth, it will potentially cause a tsunami.History records that the tsunami had hit the coast of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, and Papua for hundreds of years ago. Natural disasters such as tsunamis and large earthquakes are phenomena with repetitive cycles. This means that hundreds of years ago, earthquakes happened; over the past few years, earthquakes have happened, and in the future, the earthquakes will definitely happen again.Of course, neither the government nor the Indonesian people can remain silent and resign themselves to the risk of an earthquake and tsunami. President Joko Widodo at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java on Sunday (4/8/2019) ordered his staff, especially the National Disaster Mitigation Agency and the Coordinating Ministries to keep educating people in areas prone to earthquakes and tsunamis so that they are ready when facing the disaster. . The community must understand that disasters are no longer regarded as something that should be taken for granted, but must be anticipated so that the number of victims and the impacts can be minimized. The community also needs to understand what needs to be done in the event of an earthquake and tsunami and what must be prepared before the natural disaster occurs.Dissemination and education about earthquake and tsunami must also be carried out in schools. Students must know what to do when an earthquake occurs, and where they need to save themselves. Disaster simulations must be routinely carried out by the community, students in schools and employees in the government offices or institutions. Thus, the community is better prepared to face the earthquake and tsunami which in turn can reduce the number of victims and affected areas.