                The Province of Yogyakarta and its surroundings are tectonically areas with high seismic activities. This condition happens because the area is near the subduction zone in the Indonesian Ocean. Besides, earthquakes are potential to happen in Yogyakarta due to the local fault activities on the land. This tectonic condition makes Yogyakarta and its surroundings active and seismologically complex.
               “In the future, strong earthquakes and tsunamis are very potential to happen hereâ€, said the researcher of the Board for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, Daryono, S.Si., M.Si., in a monthly seminar entitled “Anticipating Disaster Threats in Yogyakarta†at PSBA Seminar Room, UGM, Saturday (24/10).
               “Based on seismic history, Yogyakarta has experienced 12 times of destructive earthquakes during 1840 -2006. The earthquake in 1943 was the biggest one with 250 people died and 28.000 houses collapsed.
               According to Daryono, in Central Java and Yogyakarta, active local faults and fertile soil with high water content have increased earthquake waves. This caused great destruction in that area. For a long time, Bantul has been the most destructed area during earthquakes.
               Daryono said that understanding disaster management is very important for all members of the community, the government and private sectors in order to reduce the number of victims and material losses. PSBA researcher, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, highlighted the importance of awareness for secondary disasters or post-earthquake disasters, including landslides on the hills and mountainous areas.