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Bali needs more tsunami sirens
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Tsunami prone -- Tourists enjoy the sunset at Sanur Beach in Bali, recently. As an area prone to earthquakes and tsunamis, Bali needs more tsunami sirens. (thejakartapost.com/Ni Komang Erviani)
As a tsunami-prone area, Bali needs more tsunami sirens covering beaches across the island, an official has said.
Jaya Seratabrana of the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency’s (BPBD) operation control center said Bali had nine tsunami sirens installed at several beaches, mostly in southern Bali. They were Sanur, Seminyak in Kuta, Kedonganan, Benoa Bay, Serangan, Nusa Dua, Seririt in Buleleng and Tanah Lot in Tabanan.
"We need 13 more tsunami sirens in several other places, especially in eastern and western Bali," Jaya said.
Jaya ensured the nine sirens were working properly, as a test run was conducted routinely at 10 a.m. local time on the 26th of every month. "The test run is carried out to ensure all sirens are in good condition. In the latest test this month, all sirens were working properly," he further said.
Jaya went on to say that the Bali administration had proposed the installment of 13 more tsunami sirens to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). Up until now, the proposal has not been approved.
He asserted that Bali needed more tsunami sirens as the island was prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. The sirens are needed to warn people early on so evacuations can be carried out, he added.
The BPBD Bali has also helped many hotels on the island prepare to serve as evacuation shelters. Once a tsunami is predicted to occur, people in nearby areas will be evacuated to the hotels.
BPBD Bali head Dewa Made Indra said the agency had cooperated with hotel associations to ensure that hotels were prepared for tsunamis. "We choose hotels, which have strong construction," Indra said.
He went on to say that several seaside areas in Bali were far from areas of high elevation. Therefore, tsunami evacuation routes in several areas were designed to direct people to the closest high building. Citing an example, Indra said, Kuta and Sanur beaches had no areas of high elevation.
At least 32 hotels across Bali have been certified for their readiness to handle disasters. Building quality is among indicators rated. "Certification will be conducted in stages. We aim to certify all hotels," Indra said. (ebf)
