An official in Bali said that the province only has nine active tsunami warning sirens, thus revealing the notable lack in the region’s disaster preparedness.
At least, 153 villages being identified as high-risk areas for the disaster. These villages are located all along Bali’s coasts, with the nine tsunami sirens being prioritized for densely populated areas and tourism spots, including ITDC in Nusa Dua, Seminyak, and Tanah Lot.
Gede Teja, secretary of Bali’s regional disaster management agency (BPBD) said, “Hopefully in the future we can have sirens that cover all the regions that are in the high-risk danger zones. Ideally, all the villages that fall under tsunami danger zones should have this early warning system. That’s our homework going forward.”
There are two components to an early tsunami warning system ie :
- The structural component such as sensors and surveillance cameras to analyze sea waves
- The dissemination component tasked with informing the public and issuing instructions to evacuate.
Indonesia is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, and is constantly at risk of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
With its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Bali has had its fair share of earthquakes over the years.
