Headline: Imminent Megathrust Threat: Jakarta and South Java Braced for Potential Tsunamis
Subheading: KKP Evaluates Risks as BRIN Warns of Impending Underwater Landslides
Article:
Jakarta, Indonesia – The specter of a potential megathrust event capable of triggering a devastating tsunami has resurfaced, following a recent study by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) which suggests these underwater landslides could strike at any moment. The highest-risk zones identified by LIPI include the Sunda Strait and South Java’s coastal regions.
Responding to these findings, the Acting Director of Marine Spatial Planning at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Suharyanto,njeed the current megathrust threat as still purely speculative,stemming from specific scientific research. Nevertheless, he acknowledged this as a crucial factor in planning marine spatial management.
"Of course, it’s just a prediction from a specific scientific field. But such predictions are indeed considered in our marine spatial planning," Suharyanto told CNBC Indonesia at the KKP Media Center in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/1/2025).
Suharyanto further explained that the primary impact of a tsunami resulting from a megathrust event would be felt in coastal areas, which fall under the jurisdiction of other ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN). LIPI’s research indicates that a megathrust in the Sunda Strait could generate a tsunami reaching up to 1.8 meters in Jakarta’s coastal areas.
"In fact, the most significantly affected areas are coastal regions, which are typically managed by our counterparts in ATR/BPN," he noted.
While KKP continues to integrate this risk factor into its marine spatial planning processes, Suharyanto emphasized the complexity of such an endeavor, given the unpredictable nature of natural phenomena like megathrust events. He cited the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as a prime example, where initial predictions of widespread impacts ultimately materialized in only a few locations.
"We can’t simply dismiss these variables; however, they’re practically beyond our control and necessitate a complex adaptive approach," Suharyanto stated.
As a precautionary measure, the government has begun recalibrating land use planning, particularly in high-risk areas, based on recommendations from spatial planning experts. These efforts aim to minimize potential losses should a megathrust-induced tsunami strike.
"These at-risk areas are already being addressed, with land use planning adjustments underway based on guidance from expert planners," Suharyanto concluded.
(Sources: CNBC Indonesia, LIPI, and KKP)
Video: Watch: Megathrust Triggers Tsunami Threat: Jakarta and South Java Vulnerable
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