"The early warning system will record the primary wave in 60 seconds to 30 seconds, before the secondary wave is detected," Karnawati reaffirmed in Jakarta. During the earthquake, the primary wave, or P-wave, will be first recoded by a seismograph, as it travels 1.7 times quicker than the secondary wave, or S-wave.
The chairwoman spoke of her agency currently building the early detection system and her projection of it becoming operational in 2020.
"It has yet to be ready now, but we hope it would soon become functional," she stated while adding that the early warning information will be delivered through a text message to people in the affected regions.
No technology to accurately estimate earthquakes had yet to be available, as the disaster may strike unexpectedly at any given location or time. Several forecasts were provided earlier, but the results might not align with the actual incidents, she pointed out.
Hence, people can currently rely on an early warning system instead of an earthquake forecast, Karnawati remarked.
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Translator: Dewanto Samodro/Genta Tenri Ma
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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