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scientist says people living near the Lembang Fault that lies about 9 kilometers from Bandung, West Java, are unaware about the danger of earthquakes.

Ngadi, a scientist at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ (LIPI) Population Research Center, said the government should educate people about the potential risks posed by earthquakes as part of mitigation efforts.

“To tell residents directly about evacuation routes would scare them. They must be informed incrementally,” he said on the sidelines of a workshop on public awareness and earthquake disaster mitigation at LIPI’s Geotechnology Research Center in Bandung on Wednesday.

Geological evidence suggests that large earthquakes have occurred on the Lembang Fault in the past and therefore might occur in the future.

Wednesday’s workshop was attended by members of regional disaster mitigation (BPBD) agencies, teachers, village heads and NGO representatives.

Ngadi told participants about the results of a survey conducted in May that said 60 percent of 208 people living near the fault were unaware of its existence.

“I think we must work harder to anticipate and publicize the information.”

The Lembang Fault crosses Lembang city and runs for around 22 kilometers north of the Bandung basin, ranging from Mount Palasari to Cisarua.

Eko Yulianto, a seismic researcher who has studied the Lembang Fault, agreed with Ngadi, saying that it was important to inform the public about the potential danger if the fault shifts.

The area around the fault in the Bandung basin is filled with sediments of a young, poorly consolidated lake and holds the cities of Bandung and Cimahi and West Bandung regency.

A study conducted by LIPI and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) found evidence that earthquakes occurred 700 years ago at several points along the fault line.

Another study said the fault was still active and moving at a rate of 2 millimeters a year.

Eko said the Lembang Fault could potentially trigger a magnitude-7 quake.

“This obviously is a serious threat to people living in the Bandung basin area and its surroundings, whose numbers have now reached around 8 million.”

Munasriyang, a scientist at LIPI’s Geotechnology Research Center, said the workshop was aimed at informing people about potential earthquake dangers, increasing public knowledge and mitigating risks from an earthquake in the basin.

“We also discussed follow-up actions from the survey as recommendations for local administrations in issuing quake disaster risks mitigation policies, especially for the provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency and other relevant agencies,” Munasriyang said.

“Experts have mapped out quake-prone locations. West Java is prone to quakes, including the Bandung basin area,” he added.