The Indonesian Scale Foundation and the Association of Indonesian Geologists (IAGI) and Action Quick Response (ACT) held an expedition in the Palu-Koro region, Central Sulawesi, to reveal the potential for earthquakes and map disaster risk reduction efforts.
Indonesia with 17.500 pulau, has three tectonic plates that touch each other. The contact of several of these plates produces 295 the point of an active fault or earth fault which then triggers an earthquake, activate volcanoes and even cause tsunamis. This is a big threat that lurks in various regions of Indonesia.
“It's not just earthquakes that are produced by a fault, but if an earthquake occurs at sea, it will cause a tsunami as has happened in several places in Indonesian history,” said the Head of the Palu-Koro Expedition, Trinirmalaningrum at the BNPB Office, East Jakarta, Friday (27/7/2018).
Behind the vulnerability there is beauty, uniqueness and natural wealth, as well as cultures that live above the fault. The existence of faults also holds potential energy and mineral resources that can become economic and social forces.
"The expedition also aims to educate the public and all interested parties about disaster-prone areas, namely by exposing beauty, the uniqueness and wealth of nature and culture that live on the disaster-prone area,he said.
The results of the expedition will later be documented and disseminated to the community to overcome disaster risks. "Through the Palu-Koro Expedition the results will be in the form of several book publications and a documentary series which will be broadcast on private television,he explained.
The Palu-Koro expedition team will depart on 30 July and two days later they started to explore the Kulawi area and along the fault line in Central Sulawesi.
"These areas include Poso and three valleys where there are thousands of artifacts from the megalithic era. The expedition point also includes a nature conservation area, such as Lore Lindu lake and several Lingayan and Togean islands,he said.
The expedition itself involved a number of researchers and cultural experts, anthropology, sociology, history, geology, earthquake, and disaster management representing various government institutions, national research institutions and universities as well as the media. (sal)
