A Big Question: What is the Biggest Killer in Indonesia?

What is the biggest killer in Indonesia? Including in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia becomes a vulnerable area to geological disasters. One of the terrible geological disasters is an earthquake with its complex risks. In Indonesia, earthquakes of varying magnitudes often occur. Are earthquakes the deadliest disaster?

What is the Biggest Killer in Indonesia?

Indonesia lies at the intersection of actively moving plates. What is the biggest killer in Indonesia? Among natural disasters in Indonesia, an earthquake is the most powerful and biggest killer, with all of its risks. In the case of an earthquake, the Earth's surface is still changed by the vibrations caused by the earthquake, regardless of the strength and depth of the epicenter.

Plates are the outermost layer of Earth (solid and rigid) called the lithosphere. It consists of the Earth's crust and upper mantle, which are constantly moving slowly. The movement of the upper mantle is caused by convection currents that trigger plate movement.

There are two types of plate movement such as convergent (movement toward each other) and divergent (movement away from each other). Convergent movement can form folds or faults, while divergent movement will form gaps.

The type of plates is categorized into two are continental plates and oceanic plates. Therefore, there are several conditions, including movement between continental plates, between oceanic plates, and between continental plates and oceanic plates. These movements change the structure of the Earth's surface by a shaking called earthquakes.

The Terrible Risks of an Earthquake

Every natural disaster carries risks. As a country prone to plate movement, Indonesia must have a risk mitigation program. What is the biggest killer in Indonesia? It's crucial to understand the risks involved in earthquakes, the biggest killer of geological disasters in Indonesia.

1. Tsunami

A tsunami is a major impact of an earthquake. This huge and powerful wave travels tens of kilometers inland. It is caused by plate movement centered on the ocean floor. A strong earthquake with a shallow depth actually increases the threat of a tsunami.

2. Volcanic Eruption

Indonesia has many volcanic areas. It adds the potential risk. The magma rises to the surface when the tectonic plate in the volcanic area moves. It pushes an eruption. The potential of a volcanic eruption increases drastically if plate movement coincides with high volcanic activity.

3. Landslides

Not only which caused by a flood as a climate disaster, but earthquake is a powerful factor for landslides. Earthquake vibrations caused by plate movement in the highlands create pressure on the soil and rocks. This pressure separates soil particles and rock masses from the underlying soil, causing them to slide downslope.

4. Infrastructure Damage

Infrastructure damage is an impact of an earthquake, which is caused by plate movement. Many infrastructures are damaged and disrupted, such as roads, bridges, buildings, homes, and other facilities, ranging from cracks to complete collapse. This damage causes any losses in material and psychological aspects.

5. Many Fatalities and Injuries

Besides infrastructure damage, the next risk is many fatalities and injuries. This safety risk is a major issue with earthquakes. The number of victims increases with the greater the earthquake's strength and the lack of risk mitigation.

Earthquake Warning System

Risk mitigation is essential for any type of natural disaster. As a high-risk disaster, earthquakes need to be predicted and anticipated early. An earthquake warning system (EWS) is an early risk mitigation measure before an earthquake occurs, making it crucial to reduce risk. EWS consists of two components: an early warning system and an evacuation warning system.

1. Early Warning System

Early warning systems have become increasingly sophisticated. They are connected to sensors that monitor earthquake signals. When the sensors indicate a potential earthquake, the EWS siren or alarm sounds. Residents in vulnerable areas can immediately be alerted.

2. Evacuation Warning System

Shortly after the early warning is issued, an evacuation warning is also issued. This second warning advises people to evacuate to a safe location via designated evacuation routes. This system streamlines the evacuation process.

What is the biggest killer in Indonesia? Earthquakes, as high-risk geological disasters, require vigilance. Synergy is needed to strengthen risk mitigation. As a pre-earthquake effort, warning systems can be strengthened with emergency messaging. In addition to sirens or alarms, emergency messaging is needed to provide detailed information.

A message-sending machine based on SMS (Short Message Service) can be provided by the government. This specific machine can optimize the process of sending emergency messages to mobile phones in real time. By SMS, the message can be sent evenly without relying on an internet signal. These machines are available at smsbroadcaster.com.