Intensity Activity Occurs in Siberut Megathrust Segment: Expert

id Intensity Activity Occurs in Siberut Megathrust Segment: Expert

Intensity Activity Occurs in Siberut Megathrust Segment: Expert

Illustration. (Antara)

Padang, (Antara Sumbar) - An earthquake expert from Andalas University (Unand) Padang, West Sumatra, Dr. Badrul Mustafa said there was an increase in plate activity in Siberut megathrust segment which is causing a number of earthquakes whose vibrations were felt strong enough.

"This increase in activity has two first-occurrences of the segment releasing its energy slowly and secondly it is expected to have a strong earthquake but does not as great as the experts expected," he said in Padang on Monday (Sept 11).

According to him currently on the megathrust segment in Siberut, it still keeps the energy that its release period has entered the cycle to release it.

Therefore, anticipating the occurrence of earthquake required a number of readiness from infrastructure, evacuation routes to the readiness of residents to minimize casualties, he added.

He looked to Padang in general, the readiness of citizens was good enough proven from several times earthquake. It is including the last time when people have started to calm down and do not too panicked as previous times.

"It means socialization related to things need to be done during the earthquake has started effective but it must be continued," he said.

Then from the infrastructure side such as building strength, if it is built after 2009, so that it is expected to be more earthquake resistant, but related stakeholders should still pay attention to this.

"Do not let the building structure which is not strong," he said.

Then for vertical and horizontal evacuation, it also needs to be maximized in order to accommodate residents, he pointed out.

On the other hand, he reminded that disaster material is urged to be included in curriculum especially in West Sumatra because the area is prone to disaster.

"What needs to be included is about potential for natural disasters in West Sumatra so that students can understand it well," he added.

According to him, after students understand the potential of disaster, it also need to be delivered intensity so that it can do anticipation or mitigation.

Earlier, based on data collected from Agency of Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) in the last month, there was earthquake with a strong enough strength.

On Tuesday (Sept 5), an earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter Scale rocked the city of Padang, at 09.52 a.m. located at 1.24 south latitude, 99.73 east longitude exactly 82 kilometers southwest of Pariaman with a depth of 20 kilometers.

Then on Friday (Sept 1), a 6.2 magnitude quake (SR) shook the city of Padang at 00:06 a.m..

The quake is located at 1.30 degrees south latitude, 99.99 east longitude, or 80 kilometers northeast of Mentawai, 86 kilometers southwest of Pasaman Barat, 87 kilometers southwest of Pariaman and 113 kilometers southwest of Padang with a depth of 10 kilometers, Head of BMKG Padang Panjang Rahmat Triyono said.

Next on (Aug 13), an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter Scale shook the city of Padang, at 10:08 a.m..

The epicenter is located at 3.75 south latitude, 101.56 east longitude or 71 kilometers southwest of North Bengkulu with a depth of 10 kilometers. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika