PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Coordinator for Data and Information at the Bandung City Meteorology, Climatology, Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Virga Librian, said that community disaster literacy must continue to be improved and carried out on an ongoing basis to minimize the risk of disasters such as earthquakes.

Apart from that, it is hoped that all parties will carry out preparedness by mitigating structural and non-structural disasters.

"Structural mitigation includes building earthquake-resistant buildings, especially vital school buildings and hospitals that are able to withstand earthquake shocks," said Virga in Bandung Answering at City Hall, Wednesday (8/5/2024)

Apart from that, continued Virga, providing, adding and repairing evacuation routes is one of the right steps to anticipate the worst possibility.

Not only that, non-structural mitigation efforts include conducting disaster literacy discussions to anticipate potential risks and anticipatory steps.

"The government also issues regional regulations or regulations regarding regional spatial planning that need to be regulated so that when a disaster occurs it is better organized," he said.

From the research results, said Virga, the Lembang fault has a potential magnitude of 6.5-7 and is a large earthquake based on several parameters. Based on this potential, BMKG has created a shock scenario map, the result being that the Greater Bandung area has an impact of 5-8 MMI.

"Based on the scenario, almost all of West Java, Banten and Jakarta will be affected (the Lembang fault). Greater Bandung will be affected by 5-8 MMI, such as KBB, Bandung City, Subang, Purwakarta which will be significantly and destructively affected," he said.

Currently, BMKG has 31 seismometers and seismographs throughout West Java.

"Specifically to monitor Lembang fault activity itself, we are currently adding 6 local sensors," he said.

Meanwhile, Young Researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Disaster Research Center, Edi Hidayat, said that community disaster literacy must be strengthened.

According to him, in the current era of information disruption, there is a lot of disinformation and fake news circulating in society and causing unrest and panic.

Therefore, Edi said, building strong disaster literacy requires pentahelix synergy and cooperation. Namely the involvement of the government, experts or academics, the business world, society and the mass media.

"It is true that the Lembang Fault is active. But what we have to be careful of is how we know the correct information. Because on social media we often see reading. People have to look for clear information and sources," said Edi.

After looking for the correct information, he said, take precautions starting from the smallest things and the closest environment such as the house and neighborhood neighborhood.

"In a place like an office, is it safe to use tools that are attached to the wall, for example? Or prepare a bag for an emergency containing medicine and other valuables," he said.