AEIC：Present and Future Program

The establishment of the ASEAN Earthquake Information Center(AEIC) was endorsed by the 40th Meeting of the Committee on Science and Technology held in October 2000,at the request of the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics(SCMG) to obtain the ASEAN Standing Committee‘s (ASC) approval to officially use the name“ASEAN Earthquake Infor mation Center(AEIC)“,As part of AEIC activities,the SCMG implemented a project on the ASEAN Seismic Network for Rapid Exchange of Strong Earthquake Data(ASNE RESED).The project was implemented by the ASCMG with funding support from the Government of Japan through the Japan ASEAN Co-operation Promotion Program(JACPP).The aim of the project is to facilitate the rapid exchange of data and information on earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 5.5 on the Richter scale,and to link all of the ASEAN National Seismological Centers through the Internet to disseminate earthquake information.For the future program,we propose a seismic data exchange between the National Seismological Centers in ASEAN countries as well as world seismological centers using the facilities in the AEIC,The plan is basically to develop and update the software and hardware in the NSC and AEIC for data communication.To refresh our knowledge in seismology and data communication,we arrange the training sessions for both topics.     

Damage to coastal villages due to the 1992 Flores Island earthquake tsunami

A field survey of the 1992 Flores Island earthquake tsunami was conducted during December 29, 1992 to January 5, 1993 along the north coast of the eastern part of Flores Island. We visited over 40 villages, measured tsunami heights, and interviewed the inhabitants. It was clarified that the first wave attacked the coast within five minutes at most of the surveyed villages. The crust was uplifted west of the Cape of Batumanuk, and subsided east of it. In the residential area of Wuring, which is located on a sand spit with ground height of 2 meters, most wooden houses built on stilts collapsed and 87 people were killed even though the tsunami height reached only 3.2 meters. In the two villages on Babi Island, the tsunami swept away all wooden houses and killed 263 of 1,093 inhabitants. Tsunami height at Riang-Kroko village on the northeastern end of Flores Island reached 26.2 meters and 137 of the 406 inhabitants were killed by the tsumani. Evidence of landslides was detected at a few points on the coast of Hading Bay, and the huge tsunami was probably formed by earthquake-induced landslides. The relationship between tsunami height and mortality was checked for seven villages. The efficiencies of trees arranged in front of coastal villages, and coral reefs in dissipating the tsunami energy are discussed.     

Seismological Research in Indonesia

Indonesia is situated at the juncture of three major tectonic plates:the Eurasian,the Pacific and the Indo-Australian Plates,As a result,many parts of the country are classified as being at a high risk of earthquake and tsunami disasters.In Indonesia,the Bureau of Meteorology and Geophysics(BMG)is the agency responsible for the monitoring of tectonic earthquakes and tsunamis induced by them.For this purpose,BMG operates seismic networks throughout Indonsia.In order to serve better,BMG will have to improve its monitoring system.Many agencies and universities in Indonesia have done research in the field of seismology,including seismotectonics,earthquake hazards,and so on.Joint research has been done with agencies/universities from abroad.Considering the fact that some earthquake prone areas in Indonesia suffer from frequent disasters,a study on earthquake prediction in some areas of interest would contribute to achieving some long-term goals of the Bureau.