"We have coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). This megathrust potential is inseparable from Indonesia," Uno remarked here on Thursday.
Related to this disaster threat, he expected people to not cancel their travel plans but rather to increase vigilance.
The government also provided disaster mitigation training for residents of coastal areas to better equip them to deal with various potential threats of natural disasters.
Uno highlighted that the ministry also collaborates with the National Search and Rescue (SAR) Agency (Basarnas) in preparing rescue patterns in the event of an emergency.
"Keep traveling and participate in creative economic activities, but we must be cautious," he emphasized.
The megathrust zone has existed for millions of years since the Indonesian archipelago arc was formed.
In Indonesia, the megathrust zones are located in active subduction zones, including the Sunda Subduction (Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, and Sumba), Banda Subduction, Maluku Sea Plate Subduction, Sulawesi Subduction, Philippine Sea Plate Subduction, and North Papua Subduction.
Earlier, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) had cautioned that a megathrust earthquake could strike Indonesia in the future, although a specific date cannot be predicted.
The location of the potential disaster is forecast to be in the area west of Sumatra Island to the south of Java Island, considering that it is a meeting point between the Eurasian Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate, which is prone to seismic activity.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), on September 5, conducted a simultaneous drill at four locations: Pangandaran in West Java, Cilacap in Central Java, Pandeglang in Banten, and Mentawai Islands.
These simulations are in response to expert predictions and BMKG warnings about the potential for large-scale earthquakes and tsunamis.
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Translator: Imamatul S, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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