Megathrust (ENG)

Several geologists were researching the volcanic mountain on Krakatau Island; they were studying how active Mount Krakatau was. They were also examining the tectonic and volcanic plates south of the Java Sea. Researchers predicted that the plate in southern Java would continue to move, and there was a possibility of a collision between the plates. It was estimated that a massive earthquake and tsunami would occur.

At the campus, students of the geology department at Bandung Institute of Technology were conducting studies. They were learning about tectonic plate movements. A few hours later, after studying the subject, a lecturer named Ario gave an assignment to several students in the form of field studies. The lecturer assigned a group scientific study task to students named Andrian, Dewi, and Doni. The three students were tasked with field research in Sukabumi.

One day, on the coast of Siberut Island, Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, several children were playing soccer on the beach. They were happily playing. Beside the field, there was a dog growling toward the sea as if it were frightened. A boy named Mazdan stopped playing soccer and approached the dog.

“Hey, guys, what’s wrong with this dog?” Mazdan asked his friends.

A boy named Ali was puzzled. “I don’t know? Maybe the dog is sick!” Ali replied. Then they ignored the dog and continued playing.

Suddenly, the earth shook. The children were shocked, frightened, and stopped playing.

“What’s happening?” Ali asked in panic. The tremor grew stronger. Ali’s friend, Rizwan, panicked and shouted, “Earthquake, earthquake!” They all ran away in fear, fleeing from the beach.

One child was running away from the beach when, unfortunately, a coconut fell on him. He collapsed, unconscious, on the ground. Villagers rushed out of their homes, many in panic and fear. A few seconds later, the earthquake stopped. Several people were injured from collapsed buildings, houses crumbled, and facilities were damaged.

Moments later, the seawater began to recede at the shoreline — a sign of an approaching tsunami. A fisherman noticed the receding water, was shocked, and immediately warned the villagers.

“Tsunami! Tsunami! Get away from the sea!” the fisherman shouted. The villagers panicked and ran away from the beach, heading for higher ground.

A few minutes later, the tsunami struck, devastating the village and destroying buildings and homes. Casualties fell, and many villagers were injured. The earthquake in Siberut was recorded at 8.6 magnitude.

In Sukabumi, Andrian, Dewi, and Doni had arrived at their field practice location, which was on the coast. They stayed at the practice dormitory. Later, they visited the office at their practice site to take a look around.

Andrian was examining statistical data of earthquakes in the Sukabumi area.

“The data shows 143 earthquakes and 2 tsunamis in the past 10 years!” Andrian said.

“Really?” Dewi asked.

“That’s according to the local geological agency. I think there are even more unrecorded earthquakes, maybe because of inadequate monitoring equipment!” Doni commented.

“We must validate this earthquake data — or what if we make our own earthquake detection tool?” Andrian suggested to his friends.

“Hah, are you serious?” Doni asked. Then, they decided to design an earthquake detection device. Three months later, they successfully built it.

The device was called the Tectonic Detector. They went into the field to test it. Dewi was assigned to stay on land to monitor statistical data, while Andrian and Doni went out to sea to test the tool. They monitored the Indo-Australian plate in the southern Java Sea, testing their invention there.

Meanwhile, a teenage girl from Doltana, America, named Stephanie, was at school. During break, Stephanie met her boyfriend Mathew, and they chatted happily. The bell rang, ending recess, and Stephanie left Mathew to return to class.

After classes ended, Stephanie boarded the school bus home, sitting while turning on her phone. She saw messages from Mathew.

“Hi babe, what are you doing?” Mathew texted.

“I’m on the bus, going home!” Stephanie replied, smiling.

“Oh, okay babe, safe travels, hope you have a wonderful day!” Mathew replied, adding a heart emoji. Stephanie blushed and smiled.

She scrolled through Mathew’s photos in her gallery. Soon, she arrived home. Opening the door, she was shocked — her mother and father surprised her with a birthday celebration.

“Happy birthday, Stephanie!” they said. Stephanie was overjoyed to the point her eyes welled with tears.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad!” she said.

Her mother, Emma, hugged her warmly.

“Happy birthday, sweet 17, my little bunny!” said her father, Wilson, jokingly.

“Aaah Dad, I’m not your little bunny anymore!” Stephanie pouted. Emma and Wilson laughed.

“Oh right, where’s my present?” Stephanie asked.

“We’re going on vacation to a tropical island!” Wilson exclaimed cheerfully.

“Really? Where?”

“To Bali, at Kuta Beach!” Wilson answered.

“The beach? Ugh Dad, why does it have to be the beach?” Stephanie complained.

“Sweetheart, this is your birthday gift, and also a summer holiday!” Emma persuaded.

“But why the beach? Our house is already near the beach, I’m bored of it!” Stephanie sulked.

“Well, I heard there’s also a beautiful mountain there. You can hike while we enjoy the beach!” Wilson suggested.

“Are you seriously going to leave our daughter alone?” Emma objected.

“No, honey, we’ll hire a tour guide!” Wilson assured.

“Fine! Okay, can I invite a friend?” Stephanie asked.

“Great idea, invite your friend!” Wilson said. Stephanie immediately called Mathew.

“Hi babe, want to come? I’m going on vacation to a tropical island!” she invited.

“Wow, really? Which island?” Mathew asked.

“In Bali, we’re going hiking on a mountain there, come on!” Stephanie said.

“Alright, I’ll join! When?” Mathew asked.

“The day after tomorrow!” Stephanie answered.

“Okay, I’ll get ready,” Mathew replied.

“Meet me at the airport, okay?”

“Sure babe!” Mathew said.

The day arrived, and Stephanie, Emma, and Wilson packed for their trip. Emma accidentally dropped Wilson’s photo frame, breaking it. While cleaning up the glass shards, Emma cut her hand and bled. Stephanie quickly grabbed the first aid kit and bandaged her mother’s hand. Then they left for the airport.

At the airport, Stephanie spotted Mathew waiting. She waved and shouted, “Babe!” Wilson looked at Emma, puzzled.

“Maybe that’s her boyfriend,” Emma smiled.

Mathew greeted them, and Stephanie introduced him to her parents. Shortly after, they boarded the plane and flew to Bali. Upon arrival, Wilson booked a hotel and arranged for a tour guide. The next day, a guide named I Made Iriawan arrived to take Stephanie and Mathew on a hike up Mount Agung.

Meanwhile, in Sukabumi, Dewi noticed increased seismic activity on their detector. Alarmed, the students reported to the local disaster management office. But the officer, Agus, dismissed them, demanding more validation and paperwork. Disappointed, the students decided to warn the public themselves by posting on the internet and social media. Their warnings went viral but were dismissed by the government as hoaxes.

The next day, seismic activity spiked further. The students continued to warn people. Despite rejection from authorities, they organized earthquake and tsunami drills in Sukabumi, saving many lives later.

Back in Bali, Emma saw the warnings on her phone and tried to convince Wilson, but he brushed them off as hoaxes. They went to Kuta Beach. There, strange signs appeared: fish leaping ashore, a dog barking at the sea, and a ragged man shouting in Balinese, “Everything will be destroyed, everything will sink!”

Suddenly, a massive earthquake struck. Buildings collapsed, people screamed, and panic ensued. Sirens wailed, warning of an incoming tsunami. Emma ran, terrified, searching for Wilson. Meanwhile, in Jakarta, skyscrapers crumbled from the quake’s force.

On Mount Agung, Stephanie and Mathew were climbing with I Made. The quake triggered landslides. Rocks tumbled. I Made fell, and when Stephanie tried to save him, she slipped too. Mathew, panicked, abandoned her and ran away. Stephanie cried in despair, betrayed. I Made helped her escape the landslide, but Mathew was later killed by another landslide.

At Kuta, Wilson ignored tsunami sirens, searching for Emma near the beach. The sea suddenly receded — then a towering wave came. Wilson tried to run but was swept away. Emma, meanwhile, managed to reach a tall building, helping a wounded woman along the way, but the woman was swept away by the waves. Emma survived at the rooftop, horrified by the devastation.

Later, Stephanie and I Made descended the mountain, devastated by Mathew’s betrayal. Stephanie threw away his necklace gift in anger, which landed near his corpse.

Returning to Kuta, Stephanie reunited tearfully with her mother, Emma, who told her that Wilson was missing. Both cried in grief.

In Sukabumi, the three geology students were hailed as heroes for their efforts, despite government rejection. Their warnings and drills minimized casualties. The earthquake and tsunami were recorded as the most powerful in modern history — 9.6 and 9.9 magnitude. The Indonesian government apologized for neglecting the warnings. International media covered the tragedy as the Megathrust Earthquake Disaster.