ITB’s Community Service Team (PM ITB) Educates SDN 2 Batukaras on Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation 17 Years After the Pangandaran Tsunami
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – 17 years ago, on July 17 2006, an earthquake in West Java triggered a tsunami that crashed into Pangandaran. This disaster had caused many casualties and material losses. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs of earthquakes and tsunamis and to be prepared for the event of disasters.
Moved by the condition, ITB’s Community Service Team took an initiative to educate the students of SDN 2 Batukaras, Pangandaran Regency. The project consists of undergraduate and master students, accompanied by Wiwin Windupranata, Gabriella Alodia, dan Intan Hayatiningsih from ITB’s Hydrography Research Group.
This activity took place on July 17, 2023 inside a classroom of 5th and 6th graders. The activity was divided into two parts: material and quiz. During the material session, students were taught about earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as the causes and precautions that need to be done when the disasters happen. The material session was presented by Tiara Vani (Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering’20) and Kevin Agriva Ginting (Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering’20).
In this activity, a Geographic Information System (GIS) is introduced to display earthquakes or tsunamis evacuation routes. This system was introduced by master’s students Alqintara Nuraghnia and Candida Aulia de Silva Nusantara.
After the materials session, the elementary students participated in an engaging quiz session guided by Michael Aventa and Sonia Kartini. Every student who answered correctly received rewards such as water bottles, tsunami training modules, T-shirts, and bags filled with disaster preparedness materials. Not only did the students participate, but the lecturer also led the ice-breaking activities and sang songs related to earthquakes.
The lecturer, Gabriella Alodia, Ph.D. explained that tsunami training modules are specifically designed for elementary school students. “We designed these modules with a focus on elementary kids to educate and prepare them from an early age,” she said.
Michael Aventa hopes that the knowledge the students have acquired can be shared with others. He said “I hope the trained children can also teach their parents and their other friends how to prepare in case of an earthquake or tsunami in Batukaras,”.
Reporter: Kevin Agriva Ginting, (Teknik Geodesi dan Geomatika, 2020)
Translator: Sherina Wijaya
Editor: Anggi Nurdiani (Manajemen, 2021)
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