“People are advised to avoid beaches, river mouths, and water-related activities in regions under tsunami alerts issued by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG),” he said in an official statement received by ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Better known by his initials BG, the minister explained that staying away from the coast would allow for faster and safer evacuation in the event of a tsunami.
He also called on the public to remain calm and not be swayed by misinformation or hoaxes related to the earthquake in Russia and its impact on Indonesia.
“People are urged not to spread unverified information. All official updates will come only from the BMKG, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), local disaster agencies (BPBD), and security forces such as the TNI and police,” he emphasized.
He further advised residents in coastal areas to prepare essential emergency supplies and follow established evacuation procedures if a tsunami threat materializes.
According to BMKG reports, several Indonesian coastal regions could experience a rise in sea levels of up to 0.5 meters. Areas that could potentially be affected include Papua, North Maluku, Gorontalo, and parts of North Sulawesi.
The BMKG has issued early tsunami warnings at “alert” or “watch” levels for these regions.
Minister Gunawan has also urged local governments to limit coastal and port activities and update warning information every 30 minutes until the tsunami threat is officially lifted.
“All government agencies, both at the central and local levels, are ready to respond swiftly and effectively,” he said.
He also instructed the military (TNI), police, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and BMKG to set up emergency posts and coordinate appropriate evacuation efforts to safeguard public safety.
“Public safety is the government’s top priority. I also urge everyone to remain calm, not panic, and follow official instructions on the ground,” he added.
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Translator: Walda, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Primayanti
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