(11/9/2009)
North Bali's emergency response officials staged a simulated natural disaster on Friday, November 6, 2009, creating a scenario in which the village of Pancasari, in the sub-district of Sukasada, Buleleng was devastated by a 6.9 earthquake and a resulting threat of a tsunami.
The Vice-Regent of Buleleng, Made Arga Pynatih, told beritbali.com that the disaster simulation was only part of the regency's emergency response plan and reflects the area's past history of suffering the consequences of frequent earthquakes and landslides.
The disaster simulation was conducted on the shores of Bali's lake Buyan where injured "victims" rescued from crumbling buildings, landslides and by boats when they were swept away by a tsunami - were all stretched out on the ground. Nearby other uninjured disaster simulators gathered in open fields in anticipation of possible aftershocks. Triage and medical team members attended the "dead" and "injured" as the human drama - fortunately, in this case, completely staged - unfolded further, including sudden calls to respond to household fires and police patrols anticipating the risk of looting.
Follow up meetings have been held after the simulation - all in aide of improving North Bali's response to any future crisis.
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