Jakarta:Indonesia plans to implement an earthquake early warning system with assistance from Japan to mitigate damage from frequent earthquakes.
According to Thai News Agency, the initiative will involve trial runs in Jakarta and other regions by 2030, with plans for nationwide deployment. Both countries are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making them particularly susceptible to earthquakes. Indonesia's low building quake resistance has led to severe damage, as seen in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in August that killed over 140 people in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.
A joint Japan-Indonesia team, partially funded by Tokyo's official development assistance, will begin research in 2025 in western Java, including Jakarta. This five-year project aims to create low-cost earthquake observation equipment and a system to automatically halt factories and trains during earthquakes. The team will also develop evacuation guidelines tailored to Indonesia's unique building structures and lifestyle.
The warning system will utilize radio communication and mosque loudspeakers, which are typically used for the Adhan call to prayer, to alert residents of impending quakes. With Muslims comprising about 90% of Indonesia's population, this approach ensures widespread dissemination of warnings.
Dr. Andi Eka Sakya from the National Research and Innovation Agency witnessed Japan's response to a recent earthquake and expressed a desire to replicate their effective warning measures. Japan may extend its support to other countries once Indonesia's system is operational and also aims to refine its own system by learning from international implementations. Japan's system, active since 2007, provides timely earthquake information through various media, similar to systems in other countries such as the United States, China, Taiwan, and Mexico.