Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General Suharyanto on Tuesday outlined a simple early warning tool for earthquakes that the residents of West Sumatra province can use to maintain vigilance against potential aftershocks. In a statement received here on Tuesday, he appealed to the residents to build the tool in their own homes by stacking up used cans.
The cans would fall and make a sound when an earthquake occurs, which would be a sign for the people to leave their homes, he explained.
Earlier, an earthquake measuring 6.1 in magnitude (M) rocked Mentawai Islands district, West Sumatra province, on Monday (August 29, 2022) morning.
It was followed by 13 aftershocks measuring 3.5 M to 6.1 M. However, the disaster did not trigger a tsunami.
The BNPB head also appealed to the public to ensure that there are no large items, such as cupboards, refrigerators, and tables in places that can hinder the evacuation process.
He asked people living in coastal areas to learn to recognize the characteristics of earthquakes that can trigger tsunamis.
“If the earthquake rattles continuously for more than 30 seconds, either with a strong shaking or swinging, people living in coastal areas should immediately run to higher ground to avoid the potential of a tsunami,” he explained.
Suharyanto also asked people whose houses were damaged in Monday’s disaster to immediately report the damage to the local Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).
Meanwhile, people whose buildings were not damaged can return to their homes since the quake did not trigger a tsunami, he said.
As of 7 a.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB) on Tuesday (August 30), a number of buildings of the Simalegi 3 State Junior High School, Betaet Community Health Center, West Siberut Sub-district Hall, and a church were reported to have been slightly damaged
In addition, one building of the Simalegi 11 State Elementary School suffered serious damage.
The shocks, which were reported to be quite strong on Siberut Island, caused 2,326 residents to seek refuge in West Siberut sub-district, Mentawai Islands district.
Source: Antara News