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Tagana Action in the Midst of Panic about Megathrust Earthquake and Tsunami

Tagana Action in the Midst of Panic about Megathrust Earthquake and Tsunami
Writer :
Biro Humas
Translator :
Nia Annisa

PACITAN (12 September 2021) - Panic hit Pacitan. The sound of sirens echoed throughout the area. In just seconds, people poured into the streets to save themselves. From children to the elderly, all are racing towards higher ground.

The panic was caused by the violent shaking of the megathrust earthquake caused by the collision of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates. This 8 magnitude tectonic earthquake phenomenon with an epicenter 300 kilometers southeast of Pacitan and a depth of 19 kilometers. After a while, a tidal wave of 20 meters swept across the land, preceded by the receding of the sea.

In the midst of the tense conditions, a group of people in blue uniforms were busy organizing the crowd and directing them to a predetermined evacuation point. Some of them guide the elderly and the disabled. They are the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (TAGANA) who are ready to help the community to the temporary evacuation location.

This evacuation process is part of the community self-evacuation simulation scenario in Pacitan Regency as an effort to draw up preparedness in facing the tsunami possibility due to a megathrust earthquake. The activity was carried out in the TPI (fish auction) Tamperan Port area, Pacitan Regency, Saturday (11/09/2021).

Social Minister Tri Rismaharini who also participated in the self-evacuation simulation conveyed a special message for TAGANA in Pacitan Regency.

"Make sure you make a more detailed simulation of where people should save themselves. Take into account the displaced elderly in only 20 minutes," said the Social Minister.

Disaster evacuation training and simulation is a routine agenda carried out by TAGANA volunteers.

“The purpose of regular training is to shape them into volunteers who are ready to handle disasters, both pre-disaster and post-disaster. TAGANA volunteers were also informed about the Ministry of Social Affairs' policies on disaster risk reduction," said Tagana Coordinator for East Java Province, Twi Adi some time ago.

As is known based on BMKG research, the Pacitan Regency area  is in the red zone. Its location is close to a bay that collects high wave energy and is relatively close to the location of the earthquake epicenter.

Public Relation Bureau
Ministry of Social Affairs
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