This directive comes after the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning on Wednesday morning, following an 8.7-magnitude earthquake off the eastern coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
BNPB General Secretary Rustian stated during a press conference that the alert applies to North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, North Maluku, Papua, and West Papua. He emphasized the importance of local authorities informing the public calmly and persuasively to prevent panic and ensure orderly evacuations.
He warned that tsunami risks may be heightened in coastal regions with narrow bays, such as Yotefa Bay in Papua, due to the potential for wave height amplification. Drawing on past experience, Rustian recalled the 2011 Japan tsunami, which registered just 33 centimeters on tide gauges but surged to 3.8 meters inside a bay due to topographical effects.
As a precaution, Rustian advised residents to move at least one kilometer inland and to do so at least one hour before the predicted tsunami arrival times. He also cautioned that the first wave is not always the most dangerous, noting that subsequent waves—such as the third or fourth—can be significantly larger.
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Therefore, residents should remain away from the coast for at least two to three hours after the initial wave.
BMKG earlier identified ten regions under tsunami alert, with expected wave heights of under 0.5 meters.
These include the Talaud Islands, Gorontalo City, North Halmahera, Manokwari, Raja Ampat, Biak Numfor, Supiori, North Sorong, Jayapura, and Sarmi, with estimated arrival times ranging from mid- to late afternoon.
The BMKG reported that the quake’s epicenter was located at 52.51° North latitude and 160.26° East longitude, at a depth of 18 kilometers.
The earthquake was the result of tectonic subduction activity in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, which is characterized by a thrust fault mechanism.
As of 8:30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time, BMKG had recorded seven aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging between 5.4 and 6.9.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), the earthquake may also generate tsunamis affecting Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Guam.
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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