Indonesia is well known as active tectonic region. It consists of three major active tectonics plates which are Euasia in the north, Indian Ocean-Australia in the south and pacific plate in the east. The plate movements generate subduction type of boundary which takes control on volcanic arc building and produces Sumatera Island, Java Island, Nusa Tenggara and maluku.
Besides island arc building, the subduction processes also generate seismic active belt along the volcanic arc. Fortunately, shallow epicenter earthquakes usually occur in the remote areas with less number of populations. However in some cases major earthquake stroke dense populated region such as Bengkulu, Liwa, bali and Nusa Tenggara (Flores Island). Another type of natural hazards are generated by the tectonic activities are Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami. Some active transforms faults are well known as earthquake generator are The Great Sumatra Fault (Sumatra Island), Palu-Koro (Central Sulawesi/Celebes) Fault and Sorong Fault (Papua Island)
Indonesia consists of more than 500 young volcanoes including 128 active volcanoes. It is representing 15 % of the active volcanoes in the world. The most active volcano in Indonesia is Merapi which is situated 20 kilometers to the north of Yogyakarta. This volcano has been observed continuously by means of telemetric equipment as well as field investigation. Thus, volcanic eruption disasters can be mitigated very well. Many others have also observed quite well in order to minimize volcanic eruption impact.
Other natural disasters which are generated by or exacerbated by human activities are floods, landslides, drought, land/forest fire. Those are believed as an impact of land or environmental degradation. In the monsoon, Indonesia is threatened by flood and/or landslides which caused loss of human life and property. On the other hand in the dry season, we are facing drought and land/forest fire as well as urban and building fire. Coping with those disasters Indonesian Government was launching a National Movement for Environment Rehabilitation Policy by conducting land rehabilitation and forestation. It was launched by H.E President of the Republic of Indonesia on January 21st 2004 in Gunung Kidul District where is known as mountainous infertile region which is administratively under Yogyakarta Province in Java Island.
Drought is another serious problem faces in the dry season between April and September. Government assisted to have priceless rice and other livestock. This condition also effects on hydro power supply due to significantly lower of water in many reservoir and forest fire. Those types of disasters are considered to be generated by environmental degradation due to deforestation.
Besides natural disaster, Indonesia is also facing man-made type of disaster. The nation of Indonesia is composed of multi ethnics, tribes and religions. This condition is vulnerable to the social conflict which is usually followed by setting fire and demolition of building or settlement.
Major Disaster in Indonesia in the year 2004
Floods and landslides were predominantly Indonesia's natural disasters in 2004. The global climate changes and regional climate condition were most likely influenced on those natural disasters. Human activities are also exacerbated the disaster. The regional integrated climate monitoring by means of climate data and information exchange will be very useful.
Sunday morning 26th of December 2004, at 07.58 local time, a huge earthquake by magnitude 6.8 Richter scale (body wave) or 8.1 Richter scale (magnitude moment) hit Aceh and its surrounding. The Shock can be felt in a very wide spread from Banda Aceh to Medan. The most worst impact of earthquake it self was Banda Aceh and Meulaboh where the intensity of the earthquake exceeds VII - VIII MMI (Modified Marcalli Intensity). Many buildings collapsed, few minutes after the shock tsunami wave swept collapsed building material and everything on the ground away. In some places tsunami wave exceeds more than 5 meter. The impacts devastated more than 500 km long of shore line from South Aceh - West Aceh - Banda Aceh and North Aceh where the length is about 500 km. The tsunami generated by Earthquake has also hit Nias Island (one of the district of North Sumatra Province). The propagation of tsunami waves reached the east coast of Africa. Total Loss of live exceeds 150,000 for the whole impacted area.
Due to the widely impact of disaster, Indonesian Government declared National State of Disaster Emergency. Thus, the emergency relief operations have been taken. The operation is not only done by government but also participated by private sector and communities either local, National or international. The attention of National and international communities are very surprisingly. The emergency relief assistance came very fast to Indonesia. Due to very wide spread of disaster impact and collapse of government System in the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam the operation faces many obstacles. However, continuously efforts by all participants in the operation have emerged a new hope that the disaster can be handled and the future plan of rehabilitation and reconstruction are on going.
The impact recorded in the National Operation Center in BAKORNAS PBP Jakarta was Predicted more than 94.000 people died, 70.000 missing and 500.000 displaced and lives in the temporary Shelters. In the future we hope that Indian oman where known as an earthquake and tsunami prone area can be equipped by integrated tsunami early warning system which can give a tsunami warning to the people living in along the coast from Southern Cost of Indonesia to Malaysia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka. It wiII reduce tshnami disaster risk of the people living there.
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