September 29, 2025 | 04:56 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - During a disaster workshop at Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra, experts issued a reminder about the extremely high potential for Megathrust earthquakes in the Mentawai Siberut and Sunda Strait zones, which could trigger devastating tsunamis.
"Of the 12 megathrust segments in Indonesia, these two megathrust zones carry the highest potential risk," said Fauzan, a Professor in civil engineering and earthquake-resistant structures from the Faculty of Engineering at Andalas University, speaking at the workshop on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
Fauzan explained that megathrust earthquakes, the strongest type of seismic event, occur at subduction zones, or continental plate collision zones. This geological reality is inescapable given Indonesia's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Indo-Australia, Eurasia, and Pacific tectonic plates meet. This convergence results in high seismic and volcanic activity, posing risks of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.
"The movement of these tectonic plates creates an accumulation of energy that can be released suddenly, potentially causing a large earthquake followed by a tsunami," Fauzan noted.
The Mentawai Seismic Gap
Fauzan highlighted that the Mentawai Siberut Megathrust Zone is known to scientists as one of the most dangerous seismic gaps in the world. This is because the zone has not released a significant amount of energy since major earthquakes struck in 1797 and 1833.
"We don't expect this at all, but the potential is very likely to occur, and we must anticipate it," said the Professor, who also chaired the 3rd International Conference on Disaster Mitigation and Management (ICDMM) 2025.
Historically, the 1797 and 1833 earthquakes caused severe damage and casualties in Padang. Based on expert analysis, the Mentawai Siberut zone could generate a magnitude 9 earthquake, equivalent in strength to the seismic event that triggered the catastrophic 2004 Aceh tsunami.
"Researchers from BRIN and BMKG affirm that this zone stores a significant amount of energy and has the potential to cause a major disaster," he concluded.
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