Facing Megathrust Threat, the Ministry of Social Affairs Trains 1,000 Pangandaran Fishermen to Be Tagana's Friends

PANGANDARAN (March 29, 2021) - The Ministry of Social Affairs trained 1,000 fishermen on the coast of Pangandaran Regency as friends of the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana).

Director of Social Protection for Victims of Natural Disasters (PSKBA), M. Safii Nasution, explained that the reason for the training was the government's effort to protect the residents of the southern coast, including Pangandaran Regency, from Megathrust threats.

Megathrust is an earthquake caused by the collision between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates, and can trigger a tsunami.

"These 1,000 fishermen, later, will receive disaster management training so that if a Megathrust occurs, they can help other communities to save themselves," said Safii in Pangandaran, Tuesday (29/3).

In the disaster map issued by the National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) in 2019, it is stated that the Pangandaran area is the 17th disaster-prone area nationally and the sixth in West Java Province.

In addition, according to the 2017 National Earthquake Source Map published by the National Earthquake Study Center (Pusgen), the zones that have the potential to cause a Megathrust earthquake on the island of Java are in three locations, namely the Sunda Strait waters, the southern region of the border of West Java and Central Java, as well as the East Java-Bali.

In addition, Safii added that the Ministry of Social Affairs continues to educate the public about the Megathrust threat. This was done through training and the establishment of area-based Disaster Preparedness Villages (KSB) in a number of districts in West Java Province, such as Pangandaran Regency.

The plan, after receiving training, will be inaugurated by the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini at the 17th anniversary of Tagana's 17th anniversary on Wednesday (31/3).

At the peak of the 17th anniversary of Tagana, various competitions for handling and rescuing victims at the disaster site were also filled. The competitions include Vertical Rescue, Water Rescue and Emergency First Aid (PPGD).

"This competition was participated by representatives of Tagana throughout Indonesia. Each province sends 4 representatives," continued Safii.

The 17th anniversary of Tagana also included planting 2.7 million mangrove trees throughout Indonesia. Meanwhile, as many as 20,000 mangrove trees were also planted along the coast of Pangandaran, West Java.