Residents in Padang, Indonesia, evacuated buildings as earthquake and tsunami drills were carried out by officials on April 26.

As the area is surrounded by three tectonic plates, the chance of natural disasters is increased.

Almost all types of disasters occur in Indonesia. Starting from floods, land
landslides, volcanoes to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Of the various types of disasters, earthquakes and tsunamis tend to be the topic of discussion, because the number of victims resulting from these disasters is much greater.

The reason is that Indonesia is surrounded by three global tectonic plates
hitting each other. Apart from that, Indonesia's position is also on the Ring of Fire route
Pacific, which is the route of a series of active volcanoes in the world. This ring of fire area is shaped like a horseshoe and covers an area of 40,000 km. This area is also often referred to as the Pacific Earthquake Belt.

West Sumatra, especially the city of Padang, is one of the areas at high risk of tsunamis. The potential for earthquakes stored in the bowels of the earth in West Sumatra is estimated to reach Magnitude 9 (M.9).

There are around 500,000 people who could potentially become victims.

Various efforts to reduce disaster risks were carried out, especially Evacuation Exercises.

On Friday, April 26 2024, to coincide with National Disaster Preparedness Day (HKBN), Tsunami Evacuation Exercises were also carried out involving various elements of society. Starting from residents to school children.

They ran for safety as soon as the danger siren sounded.

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto admitted that earthquakes and tsunamis are the most vulnerable areas in West Sumatra. Earthquakes always recur.

“Hopefully, all of us with training like this, will be ready. "Increasing readiness, increasing preparedness," he said.

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Muhadjir Effendi, hopes that evacuation training can become a habit and culture. "We always see how this can be held in schools once a week," he hoped.