Jakarta (Antara Bali)- Indonesians cannot ignore the tsunami threat as the country is situated in a belt of volcanoes called the Ring of Fire, stated Rear Admiral Untung Suropati, the expert staff of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas).
Due to its geographical location, Indonesia must be more alert for any potential of natural disasters, he said here on Friday, which coincided with the 10th commemoration of the deadly tsunami that devastated Aceh on Dec. 26, 2004.
The commemoration of the Aceh tsunami should serve as a momentum to intensify vigilance regarding natural disasters, he emphasized.
"The 10th commemoration of the Aceh tsunami makes us realize that the potential of the disaster cannot be ignored," he added.
The gigantic tsunami killed several people in Aceh and Nias Island, North Sumatra Province, due to the absence of an early warning system, he stated.
When the tsunami struck, many people did not know how to deal with it.
"When the tsunami hit Aceh, the local inhabitants even went to the beaches to catch fish, unaware of the huge potential of the disaster at that time," he pointed out.
He recalled that when the gigantic tsunami hit Aceh, he was commander of the Maritime Patrol Task Unit for the western coasts of the Indian Ocean.
The Navy instructed him to transport relief aid to the tsunami victims in Aceh. He deployed two warships KRI Teuku Umar anad KRI Cut Nyak Dien to carry logistics such as medicines, clothing, food, and several medical personnel.
"We had no idea about the situation following the tsunami, because from the sea, we saw only darkness and no signs of life," he recollected.
On arriving at the coast, he was taken aback by the sight of bodies strewn everywhere.
The deadly tsunami was triggered by a powerful earthquake measuring 9.3 on the Richter Scale that caused faults as long as 1.2 thousand kilometers from Aceh to the Andaman Islands, India.
According to data received from the Aceh provincial administration, the tsunami killed 126,741 people, rendered 93,285 people missing, 500 thousand homeless, and nearly 750 thousand people became unemployed.
The tsunami, which is the most devastating one in living memory, affected 18 countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, killed more than 250 thousand people in a single day, and left more than 1.7 million people homeless.
Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Tanzania were among the 18 countries affected by the tsunami.
The 10th Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster Commemoration themed "Let's Build a Better Aceh with Heart" focuses on reflection, appreciation, and awakening. (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2014
Due to its geographical location, Indonesia must be more alert for any potential of natural disasters, he said here on Friday, which coincided with the 10th commemoration of the deadly tsunami that devastated Aceh on Dec. 26, 2004.
The commemoration of the Aceh tsunami should serve as a momentum to intensify vigilance regarding natural disasters, he emphasized.
"The 10th commemoration of the Aceh tsunami makes us realize that the potential of the disaster cannot be ignored," he added.
The gigantic tsunami killed several people in Aceh and Nias Island, North Sumatra Province, due to the absence of an early warning system, he stated.
When the tsunami struck, many people did not know how to deal with it.
"When the tsunami hit Aceh, the local inhabitants even went to the beaches to catch fish, unaware of the huge potential of the disaster at that time," he pointed out.
He recalled that when the gigantic tsunami hit Aceh, he was commander of the Maritime Patrol Task Unit for the western coasts of the Indian Ocean.
The Navy instructed him to transport relief aid to the tsunami victims in Aceh. He deployed two warships KRI Teuku Umar anad KRI Cut Nyak Dien to carry logistics such as medicines, clothing, food, and several medical personnel.
"We had no idea about the situation following the tsunami, because from the sea, we saw only darkness and no signs of life," he recollected.
On arriving at the coast, he was taken aback by the sight of bodies strewn everywhere.
The deadly tsunami was triggered by a powerful earthquake measuring 9.3 on the Richter Scale that caused faults as long as 1.2 thousand kilometers from Aceh to the Andaman Islands, India.
According to data received from the Aceh provincial administration, the tsunami killed 126,741 people, rendered 93,285 people missing, 500 thousand homeless, and nearly 750 thousand people became unemployed.
The tsunami, which is the most devastating one in living memory, affected 18 countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, killed more than 250 thousand people in a single day, and left more than 1.7 million people homeless.
Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Tanzania were among the 18 countries affected by the tsunami.
The 10th Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster Commemoration themed "Let's Build a Better Aceh with Heart" focuses on reflection, appreciation, and awakening. (WDY)
Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2014