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JAKARTA has the potential to experience a shock equivalent to VIII MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) if a large earthquake occurs in the megathrust segment of the Sunda Strait.
According to the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation Coordinator, Daryono, said the Mercalli scale is a unit for measuring the strength of an earthquake and consists of a scale of I to XII. The strength of the VIII MMI earthquake was included in the severe category.
“Slight damage to buildings with strong construction. Cracks in buildings with poor construction, walls can fall off the frame of houses, factory chimneys and monuments collapse, water becomes cloudy,” the BMKG wrote on its official website to describe the strength of the earthquake. on the MMI VIII scale.
Daryono explained that the strong shaking in Jakarta in the event of a large earthquake in the megathrust segment of the Sunda Strait was also caused by the soft character of the soil in Jakarta.
“Based on modeling, if a megathrust earthquake occurs, then Lampung, Banten, West Java and Jakarta will experience earthquakes with shocks VII to VIII MMI. This is considered severe,” said Daryono in a talk on Radio Trijaya, Saturday (1/23).
“Moreover, Jakarta, because the soil is soft, can amplify shocks so that the damage may be more severe. As a comparison, the Aceh earthquake that triggered the tsunami in 2004 was on the MMI scale of IX,” said Daryono.
In addition, Daryono emphasized that with the potential for an 8.7-magnitude earthquake in the megathrust segment of the Sunda Strait, a tsunami is also likely to occur if a large earthquake occurs.
According to the modeling of scientists, the tsunami caused by the earthquake could sweep the coasts of Lampung, Banten, West Java and also parts of Jakarta. Tsunamis in the Sunda Strait, West Java and Lampung can reach 15 meters.
Daryono explained that all these risks have been studied by BMKG to educate the public, not to frighten. The goal is to make the public aware of the potential for an earthquake, about the dangers and know the steps that must be taken in the event of a disaster.
Previously, it was reported that the BMKG said there was a potential for an earthquake with a targeted strength of 8.7 in the megathrus segment of the Sunda Strait. This is known, among others, from the absence of major earthquakes in this segment in the last 300 years.
Daryono compared the Sunda Strait with Pangandaran in West Java, which experienced an earthquake and tsunami in 2006 and Bengkulu in 2007 with a magnitude of 8.5.
“The Sunda Strait is equally megathrust with Bengkulu and Pangandaran. Why should the Sunda Strait be missed? It means that in the Sunda Strait there is still an accumulation of energy that has not been released,” he concluded. [antaranews/photo special]
