Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Indonesia tests mosque loudspeakers as earthquake warning alarms
Indonesia is testing whether mosque loudspeakers can serve as alarms for earthquakes.
The five-year pilot links some mosques to seismic sensors and is being run by Japanese and Indonesian researchers with the Indonesian government.
Mosques are widespread across the country, and their speakers are already maintained to broadcast the call to prayer.
That existing network could help reach remote communities where mobile phone alerts may fail if an earthquake disrupts communications.
Unlike tsunami warnings, earthquake alerts may offer only seconds to act; a village 50km from an epicentre could have five to 10 seconds.
The project is also studying school loudspeakers, radio and television, as well as differences in how people in Japan and Indonesia respond to earthquakes.
The system remains a prototype and does not yet warn the public.
The project runs until 2030, with the goal of alerting people as early as possible.
Indonesia is testing whether mosque loudspeakers can serve as earthquake warning alarms.
The five-year trial has connected several mosques to a seismic sensor network, but it does not yet issue public warnings.
Researchers say the speakers could reach remote communities because mosques are widespread and their equipment is maintained.
The project is being carried out by Japanese and Indonesian researchers and is due to run until 2030.
- Who
- Japanese and Indonesian researchers, working with the Indonesian government.
- What
- They are testing whether mosque loudspeakers can be used to warn people of earthquakes.
- When
- The five-year trial is under way and the project runs until 2030.
- Where
- Indonesia.
- Why
- Researchers hope the speakers can alert people quickly, including in remote communities, and help save lives.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It’s still a prototype, and they don’t issue warnings to the public yet.
Every community has a mosque.
The advantage of a mosque speaker is that they’re existing and well maintained.
Indonesia’s tsunami early warning system dates back to this year.
A devastating earthquake in western Sumatra killed at least 1,000 people.
A damaged mosque was photographed near Talise beach in central Sulawesi.
The project is scheduled to continue while researchers assess the warning system.
- Trial duration
- Five years
- Project end
- 2030
- Pilot network
- Several mosques connected to seismic sensors
- Potential response time
- A village 50km from an earthquake epicentre could have five to 10 seconds
- Indonesia’s mosques
- Hundreds of thousands of mosques nationwide
Sources
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