JAKARTA – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is ready to install 20 units of an Early Warning System (EWS) or Early Warning Sensor System for flash floods in the river flow in the Mount Marapi region in West Sumatra (Sumatra).
BNPB disaster mitigation director Berton Suar Pandjaitan said the river flow would be installed for EWS sensors in Tanah Datar Regency, Agam and Padang Panjang City areas.
“Currently, the team is conducting a survey there to find strategic points or locations to install 20 units of sensors and disaster mitigation panels,” he said in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 11, as quoted by Antara. Based on the results of the BNPB analysis, it is known that Agam Regency, Tanah Datar and Padang Panjang City is an area prone to flash floods because it moves directly with a number of rivers whose flow rate is water is overflowing on Mount Marapi. The volcano has erupted several times in recent times.
BNPB data, 62 residents of local districts and towns died due to flash floods with mixed materials with the results of the volcanic activity of the volcano.
Berton considers that the various information on the EWS system is important for the public, so that it minimizes the impact of the flood disaster in the event of a repeat.
He said the potential impact of the disaster was still high. Based on the team of geologists’ analysis, approximately 700,000 cubic meters of volcanic material fell into the summit or slopes of Mount Marapi.
He explained that the dozens of EWS sensors that will be installed by BNPB have the capacity to measure precipitation, river water level height and will be integrated with weather sensors installed by the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and of Geophysics (BMKG) in three locations around the slopes of Mount Marapi.
He explained the operating system of the device. If rain flows into the upper part of the river so that the water flows abundantly and the volume of the river water begins to increase, the EWS sensor will sound the siren. The siren is a sign of danger so that other people can do their own saving.
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