The Baribis Fault is said to have the potential to cause an earthquake to hit the southern part of Jakarta.
JAKARTA, BERITALINGKUNGAN.COM– In a significant move to preempt potential geological disaster risks that could affect the metropolitan area, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has embarked on a proactive study of the Baribis-Kendeng fault line, also known as the Java Back-arc Thrust, which is heading towards Jakarta.
The proximity of this fault line to the nation’s capital, known for its dense population and complex infrastructure, raises concerns about its potential impact.
Sonny Aribowo, a researcher from BRIN’s Geological Disaster Research Center, highlighted the importance of this study given Jakarta’s high risk of natural disasters. “The Baribis-Kendeng is an uplift fault located behind Java’s volcanic arc, and researching it is vital considering the potential impact it could have on Jakarta,” said Sonny during a workshop on mapping Java Island’s faults, as reported by Beritalingkungan.com.
Although the majority of this fault line lies in West Java, seismic activities occurring along it could significantly affect Jakarta. BRIN has identified that several earthquakes in Java over the past two years originated from previously unmapped faults, such as those in Cianjur and Sumedang, as well as from areas where earthquakes were not anticipated, like Bawean.
“We need to be more vigilant about unmapped faults by remapping these fault lines,” added Sonny. He also revealed that faults in Java tend to pass through major cities with existing infrastructure and dense populations, necessitating more detailed research on these mapped faults in such areas.
Through this study, BRIN aims to compile a comprehensive land seismic assessment, where all parameters can be accurately input to minimize the risk and impact of seismic activities on the Baribis-Kendeng fault line. This research is expected to provide crucial insights for the government and the public in developing more effective disaster mitigation and preparedness strategies for the future (Ant/BL)
