MUHAMMADIYAH.ID, BANTEN - A ceremony of a summit of Ekspedisi Destana Tsunami (Destana Expedition) 2019 conducted by National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB) was attended by Chair of the BNPB Lieutenant General Doni Monardo at Marbella Hotel, Anyer, Serang, Banten on Wednesday (14/8).

Muhamamdiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) sent a team to join the expedition. After the ceremony, the MDMC team discussed a tsunami contingency plan along the southern coast of Java at Politeknik Kesehatan Aisyiyah Banten, Serang. The discussion was participated by the central and regional MDMC.

The discussion was officially opened by Deputy Chair of the MDMC Rahmawati Husein. She stated that, even though tsunami has low frequency, it causes the highest losses.

“Eight percent of recent disasters are categorized in hydrometeorological hazards as tornadoes, floods, and landslides, while tsunami occurred only few times, but it caused most victims,” informed Rahmawati.

The tsunami contingency plan along the southern coast of Java becomes a stepping stone of the MDMC to anticipate impacts of tsunami which has recently been viral on media after a statement by a researcher of the beach dynamic study of Technology Research and Application Board (BPPT) Widjo Kingko on potential of megathrust earthquakes.

Indeed, many people live and Muhammadiyah charities (AUM) are located in red zones of tsunami, namely the southern coast of Java as Bantul, Kulonprogo, Kebument, and Cilacap.

For instance, there are 27 Muhammadiyah charities in Cilacap. They comprises of TK ABA (kindergartens) and Muhammadiyah buildings whose value is billions.

Hence, Muhammadiyah will suffer a lot of losses if tsunami happens, and there is not any other ways except preparing ourselves and reducing the losses.