Field survey and evacuation behaviour during the 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami

ABSTRACT

On the 22nd of December 2018 the shorelines of Sunda Strait, Indonesia, were hit by tsunami waves generated by the flank collapse of the Anak Krakatau volcano. The authors conducted a field survey of the affected areas in both Sumatra and Java islands to collect information on tsunami inundation and run-up heights, damage patterns at each coastal community, and the evacuation behaviour and tsunami awareness of the affected people. The survey results showed that in Sumatra island inundation heights of more than 4 m were measured along the coastline that was situated to the north-north-east of Anak Krakatau, while less than 4 m were measured along the north-western direction. Inundation heights of over 10 m were measured at Cipenyu Beach (Pandeglang Regency) in Java island (south-south-eastern direction from Anak Krakatau). A questionnaire survey conducted by the authors revealed residents’ perception of danger and evacuation patterns during the event. The results indicate the importance of having an operational tsunami warning system in Sunda Strait and the establishment of an appropriate evacuation plan so that residents can start evacuation immediately and reach a safe place without facing severe congestion along evacuation routes.

KEYWORDS:

• Tsunami
• landslide
• evacuation behaviour
• survey
• questionnaire

Acknowledgments

The field survey was financially supported by Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd., New CC Construction Consultants Co., Ltd. This work was also supported by JST J-RAPID Grant Number JPMJJR1801, Japan. The present work was performed as a part of activities of Research Institute of Sustainable Future Society, Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ Apparently the first was after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, and the last was two years ago, though there does not appear to be consistent efforts to hold them, given that many respondents of the questionnaire survey at this location indicated that they did not take part, as will be explained later.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd. [B2R500027001]; Research Institute of Sustainable Future Society, Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University [BA070Z000100]; New CC Construction Consultants Co., Ltd. [BXA30Z001000];Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as part of SICORP (J-RAPID) [JPMJJR1801].