Meanwhile, a small area in the western part of the Lembang fault is included in the zone of a high earthquake-prone area that is indicated by the red color zoneJakarta (ANTARA) - The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) said most of West Bandung District, West Java, fell into the medium earthquake-prone area category, shown in yellow through mapping results.
"Meanwhile, a small area in the western part of the Lembang fault is included in the zone of a high earthquake-prone area that is indicated by the red color zone," PVMBG's said in a statement on Monday.
The map of the earthquake disaster area is made on the basis of three parameters: source of earthquake (subduction zones and active faults), local geological conditions (surface soil conditions and basin depths), and seismicity (history and recurrence periods).
Based on these three parameters, a seismic simulation is being prepared probabilistically for the next 500 years.
The division of earthquake-prone areas is based on the magnitude of earthquake intensity in Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) that is converted from the earthquake acceleration value.
The level of earthquake susceptibility contained in the map is expected to be useful as initial information on potential damage due to earthquake shocks that can hit an area.
The PVMBG remarked that the medium earthquake-prone areas indicated in yellow on the map are areas with the potential to be hit by earthquake shocks with an intensity scale of MMI VII-VIII.
The area also has the potential for soil cracks, liquefaction, landslides in hilly topography, and soil shifts on a small scale.
Moreover, buildings, with qualified design and construction, will be safe or only hit by minor damage. Meanwhile, buildings with normal structures that are well-constructed will experience light to moderate damage, and poorly constructed buildings, with poor structure, can suffer heavy damage. Earthquake shocks in the yellow zone area can damage fence walls, chimneys, piles of goods, and monuments.
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In areas prone to high earthquake disasters, the PVMBG remarked that the red areas on the map are areas that have the potential for strong earthquake shocks with an intensity scale greater than MMI VIII.
In addition, this area has the potential for soil cracks, liquefaction, and soil movements on steep slopes. Significant damage will also occur to specially designed buildings, high-rise buildings, shifting on building foundations, and damage to some well-built wooden buildings.
The PVMBG recommends the local government to increase structural and non-structural earthquake and tsunami mitigation efforts to increase public understanding of earthquakes to reduce the risk of earthquake disasters.
Moreover, strategic vital buildings and public buildings must be built according to the rules of earthquake-resistant buildings.
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Translator: Sugiharto Purnama, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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