QUAKE, TSUNAMI EMERGENCY SIMULATION HELD IN BENGKULU

Bengkulu, Dec 10 (ANTARA) - An earthquake and tsunami emergency simulation involving hundreds of people was staged at Bengkulu's Panjang beach on Thursday.

Witnessed by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono , the exercise was held to increase the local people's preparedness to face possible earthquakes and tsunami.

In the exercise, the participants demonstrated their attitude and behavior in facing an earthquake and tsunami hitting their region unexpectedly.

Organized by Bengkulu's provincial administration, the earthquake and tsunami simulation, watched by thousands of people , tested the readiness and responsiveness of the existing disaster handling agencies such as the fire brigade, police personnel, and disaster management task force officials.

Meanwhile, Bengkulu Governor Agusrin Najamuddin said the province was prone to earthquakes, and if a powerful one happened with its ensuing tsunami, the coastal area would probably be obliterated.

"We organize this disaster simulation in a bid to minimize the number of victims if tsunami really sweeps through Bengkulu unexpectedly," the governor said.

He said the provincial administration would try its best to manage unexpected disaster independently without bothering the central government and other parties.

"We have established social networks as far as rural areas to anticipate earthquake and tsunami disaster," the governor said.