National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) will review the relocation plan for the people living around Mount Talamau in West Pasaman District, West Sumatra Province, considering that earthquake-triggered landslides occurred at several areas of the mountain.

Earlier, a 6.1-magnitude (M) quake rattled the district’s area on February 25, 2022.

“We will discuss about the hazards posed by the landslides with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG),” Head of BNPB Lieutenant General Suharyanto said here on Saturday.

The relocation should highly be considered if the landslides are projected to happen again in future and endanger the surrounding settlements, he said.

“Currently, Several residents who are worried about the future recurrence of landslides have left their homes to find a safer place,” he informed.

Furthermore, he has noted that no one can ensure when the next quake will occur, however it is possible to predict it according to the seismic cycle.

“Hence, if the disaster will truly pose a great threat to the community in future, they must be relocated,” he added.

Meanwhile, Head of West Pasaman District Hamsuardi has assessed that more studies regarding the threat of the landslides are required to decide on the relocation plan.

“If the studies held by the competent authorities find that the people must be relocated, we are ready to do it,” he remarked.

Hence, he said that his party will conduct socialization to the community regarding the relocation as well as prepare new location for the settlements.

Residents around Mount Talamau, especially in Kajai Village, are still worried about the landslides.

According to the recent data, BNPB recorded 103 houses were severely damaged, five houses were moderately damaged, while 317 houses were mildly damaged due to the 6.1 M earthquake.

Around 10 thousand people in West Pasaman District and Pasaman District take refuge in 35 evacuation posts.

Meanwhile, as of February 26, 2022 at 04:30 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB), BNPB noted that the disaster had claimed seven lives and injured 85 people.

Source: Antara News