Indonesia's BMKG Strengthens Tsunami Warning System Following Flores Earthquake

RRI.CO.ID, Mbay - Indonesia is about to strengthen earthquake disaster management and mitigation on its Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, including through a tsunami early warning system. Head of the country's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Teuku Faisal Fathani, said that the early warning system had been operating rapidly since the earthquake struck.

"When an earthquake occurs, we must inform and communicate within less than three minutes the potential for a tsunami to occur. So, exactly two minutes and 16 seconds later, the BMKG will announce the event on all channels and media outlets, so the public can take rescue measures before a tsunami strikes," Faisal said in his report during a meeting led by President Prabowo Subianto in the province's Nagekeo Regency on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

He noted that the system's speed has contributed to the minimal tsunami impact in several areas. Faisal also reported that tsunami waves reached heights of up to 2.5 meters in several areas in northern Flores.

"This is a positive development compared to the 1992 earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.8 and a depth of 32 kilometers, with up to 2,000 victims, primarily due to the tsunami. Now that we have 2,000 earthquake sensors, 175 of which are in this province, we can provide effective warnings to the public," he said, as quoted from the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat website.

Besides ensuring the early warning system readiness, the government is also educating the public to deal with concerns about the potential for another major earthquake and tsunami. Together with local governments, the agency continues to provide accurate information regarding seismic conditions to the public.

"The community was so worried that BMKG staff were kept at the posts to keep them comfortable and calm, fearing aftershocks and so on," Faisal said.

"Now, they've started returning home, and their houses are also single-story and sparsely populated. They sometimes go to the posts to get aid, but they'll return home if the damage is minor and not dangerous. We're providing that kind of understanding," he explained.