'We can't forget 2021': Indonesia's West Sulawesi prepares for the next big quake
17 Jun 2025 02:45pm
This aerial picture shows motorists waiting in a queue to pass through a section of road affected by a landslide caused by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Majene, West Sulawesi on Jan 19, 2021. - (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
JAKARTA - The devastation of Jan 16, 2021, still lingers in West Sulawesi, when a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck before dawn, killing 105 people, injuring thousands, and causing widespread destruction across the province.
Four years later, local officials, emergency responders and community members returned to the epicentre on Monday not to mourn the tragedy of the past, but to prepare for the possibility of it happening again.
In a large-scale simulation, the province tested its emergency response to a modelled 7.5-magnitude earthquake striking the coastal districts of Majene and Mamuju, with a scenario projecting over 1,000 fatalities and 200,000 displaced residents.
Coordinated by Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the exercise brought together government officials, military and police units, humanitarian organisations, and local communities in a test of speed, coordination and resilience.
BNPB senior trainer Apriyuanda G. Bayu Pradana stated that the activities, which included a tabletop exercise and a command post simulation, were designed to strengthen coordination between agencies within the emergency command system. This aerial picture shows motorists waiting in a queue to pass through a section of road affected by a landslide caused by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Majene, West Sulawesi on Jan 19, 2021. - (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
"Ultimately, we aim to generate recommendations to improve policy and emergency planning,' he said in a statement.
West Sulawesi lies along the seismically active Mamuju thrust fault and remains at high risk of major earthquakes and tsunamis.
Acting provincial secretary Herdin Ismail said the drill reflected the joint commitment of BNPB and the provincial government to cultivate a culture of disaster awareness and strengthen local preparedness as the frontline in disaster management.
"We hope this helps all sectors understand their responsibilities, respond swiftly, and coordinate effectively during real emergencies," he said.
As Indonesia sits atop the volatile Pacific Ring of Fire, simulations like these are becoming not just routine but essential. - BERNAMA
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