Makassar, South Sulawesi The Sulawesi Earthquake Study Center (PSGS) has called for earthquake mitigation to minimize the impact of aftershocks observed in Mamuju District, West Sulawesi, and surrounding areas in the past two years.
“Our worries are about the mitigation because it seems that Mamuju city was heavily damaged (in the earthquake) in 2021, but the (state of) mitigation is not like in other cities. Hence, we encourage it to be intensified quickly,” Director of PSGS Ardy Arsyad said at a press conference in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Saturday.
Mamuju City, the capital of West Sulawesi Province, is located in an active fault area, he stressed.
Based on research, Mamuju City has a fairly long history of seismic disasters, with quakes recorded in 1967, 1969, 1972, 1984, 1985, 2012, 2021, and 2022, he informed.
According to him, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred on January 15, 2021, caused 108 casualties and damaged hundreds of houses, buildings, and facilities.
An earthquake of 5.8 magnitude hit Mamuju again on June 8, 2022, leaving many people injured and damaging some buildings.
The series of disasters, Arsyad said, has shown the city’s vulnerability to earthquakes as its location is relatively close to the Makassar Strait fault.
Source: Antara News