JAKARTA – Indonesia is developing an earthquake early warning system with support from Japan as part of efforts to reduce casualties and damage from frequent strong earthquakes.
The system is expected to undergo trial runs in Jakarta and other regions by 2030 before a possible nationwide rollout.
Indonesia, like Japan, lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire and is highly vulnerable to earthquakes. The risk is compounded by the relatively low earthquake resistance of many buildings.
A Japan-Indonesia research team began a five-year pilot project in 2025 across three provinces in western Java, including the Jakarta metropolitan area. The project is partly supported through Japan’s official development assistance program.
The team is developing low-cost earthquake monitoring equipment and systems capable of automatically stopping factory operations and train services once strong shaking is detected.
Researchers are also studying evacuation procedures suited to local buildings and lifestyles, including guidelines covering the period from the onset of an earthquake through evacuation.
Mosques may also be used to relay early warnings through loudspeakers normally used for the Adhan, or Muslim call to prayer, alongside radio and other communication channels.
Indonesia’s research team said Japan’s experience with earthquake warnings could serve as a model, particularly in providing immediate safety instructions to the public without causing panic.
Japan introduced its earthquake early warning system in 2007, delivering alerts through television, radio and mobile devices. Similar systems are also used in the United States, China, Taiwan and Mexico.
Japan is also considering supporting similar systems in other countries while using overseas projects to improve its own earthquake-warning technology.
