Exploring tsunami literacy levels among vulnerable groups in areas affected by the 2018 Anak Krakatau Tsunami, Indonesia
Abstract
The end of 2018 marked a significant turning point for coastal communities in several areas of South Lampung, Indonesia. A key question remains: what is the level of awareness among those affected, particularly among vulnerable groups? This study aims to investigate tsunami literacy levels among vulnerable groups, specifically children, women, and the elderly. In conducting this investigation, a mixed-methods approach was used, involving questionnaires distributed to children (n = 80 respondents) and in-depth interviews with groups of women and the elderly (n = 11). Specifically, this investigation was conducted in the Rajabasa subdistrict across three villages Way Muli, Way Muli Timur, and Kunjir which were among the three villages severely affected by the tsunami at the end of 2018. During our investigation, we obtained specific data indicating that children’s tsunami literacy levels were, in order, high (20%), moderate (61.25%), and low (18.75%), with an average of 64.06. Based on this data, the majority of them understand tsunami warning signs, but their knowledge of evacuation procedures remains limited. Meanwhile, among other vulnerable groups, such as women and the elderly, 10 out of 11 respondents demonstrated preparedness, a finding strongly supported by their prior disaster experiences. We can conclude from these findings that there is a need to strengthen tsunami preparedness through a participatory, culturally-based approach by integrating local cultural elements into disaster education programs in schools and local communities. We also highlight the urgency of strategies to enhance tsunami literacy to help them protect themselves in the face of future tsunami disasters.
Keywords: Children, disaster literacy, older adults, tsunami, women
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Adepoju, O. E., Herrera, L., Chae, M., & Han, D. (2023). Optimizing disaster preparedness planning for minority older adults: One size does not fit all. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 401-414.
Amato, A., Cugliari, L., Samperi, V., Funiciello, F., & De Filippis, L. (2024). Tsunami at school. An experimental strategy to increase students' risk perception. Annals of Geophysics, 67(2), TP211-TP226.
Amri, I., Giyarsih, S. R., & Ruslanjari, D. (2024). Tsunami risk awareness, hazard warning knowledge, and intended evacuation behavior among beach users in Bantul, Indonesia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 109, 104594.
Ananda, L., Nurulanningsih, N., Asante, J. N., & Shah, N. M. (2025). Reviving local wisdom: Teaching social values through Lampung in Indonesian education. Tekno-Pedagogi: Jurnal Teknologi Pendidikan, 15(1),50-66.
Appleby-Arnold, S., Brockdorff, N., & Callus, C. (2021). Developing a "culture of disaster preparedness": The citizens’ view. International journal of disaster risk reduction, 56, 102133-102142.
Aryani, N. D., Rahmayanti, H., & Kustandi, C. (2025). Trends and innovative approaches in disaster literacy education for elementary school students. Proceedings of the International Conference on Child Education,1(1), 166-184.
Avcı, G. (2023). Afet eğitiminde afetlere hazırlık: Üniversite öğrencileriyle tehlike avı. Afet ve Risk Dergisi, 6(1), 84-100.
Bogdan, E., Krueger, R., Wright, J., Woods, K., & Cottar, S. (2024). Disaster awareness and preparedness among older adults in Canada regarding floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. International Journal of
Disaster Risk Science, 15(2), 198–212.
Bogdan, E., Krueger, R., Wright, J., Woods, K., & Cottar, S. (2024). Disaster awareness and preparedness among older adults in Canada regarding floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 15(2), 198-212.
Cabello, V. M. (2022). Students understanding of earthquakes and tsunamis in high risk areas. Frontiers in Earth Science, 10, 841251.
Chen, Y., & Zhang, L. (2022). Digital literacy and disaster preparedness: Social media use and community resilience. Computers in Human Behavior, 134(1), 107339.
Choo, M., & Yoon, D. K. (2024). A meta-analysis of the relationship between disaster vulnerability and disaster damage. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 102, 104302.
Cong, Z., Feng, G., & Chen, Z. (2023). Disaster exposure and patterns of disaster preparedness: A multilevel social vulnerability and engagement perspective. Journal of environmental management, 339, 117798.
Cugliari, L., Cerase, A., & Amato, A. (2022). Tsunami risk perception, a state-of-the-art review with a focus in the NEAM region. Frontiers in Earth Science, 10, 995536-995561.
Di Ludovico D, Capannolo C, d’Aloisio G (2023) The toolkit disaster preparedness for pre-disaster planning. International Journal Disaster Risk Reduct, 96, 103889).
Dogan, G. G., Annunziato, A., Hidayat, R., Husrin, S., Prasetya, G., Kongko, W., Zaytsev, A., Pelinovsky, E., Imamura, F., & Yalciner, A. C. (2021). Numerical simulations of December 22, 2018 Anak Krakatau tsunami and examination of possible submarine landslide scenarios. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 178, 1-20.
Effendi, N. A. F. N., Khanan, M. F. A., & Azmy, S. N. (2025). Integrating Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI), remote sensing and GIS for tsunami vulnerability assessment in rural Malaysian communities. Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 21(3), 39-60.
Erdoğan, E. G., & Kaya, S. S. (2024). The role of disaster literacy and preparedness among communities in Turkey: A quantitative analysis of risk perception and self-efficacy. Public Health Nursing, 41(5), 1135–1143.
Ewers, M., Beckert, J., Griese, L., Köhler, M., Prasser, A., Singh, H., & Schaeffer, D. (2025). Correction: Disaster Health Literacy–Development and Validation of a Short Measurement Instrument in German to Supplement the HLS19 Instruments. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1691501-1691515.
Fakhriati, F., Nasri, D., Mu'jizah, M. J., Supriatin, Y. M., Supriadi, A., Musfeptial, M., & Kustini, K. (2023). Making peace with disaster: A study of earthquake disaster communication through manuscripts and oral traditions. Progress in disaster science, 18, 100287-100295.
Fauzi, M. A. R., Chairiyah, H. F., Ahmad, A. L., & Tarigan, T. A. B. (2024). Tsunami vulnerability study in Ngambur and Bengkunat Districts, West Coast of Lampung using COMCOT. Marine Zone Journal of Marine Science and Technology Innovation, 213-222.
Febrina, R., Afriani, L., Susilorini, R. M. R., & Prastio, T. (2021). Vulnerability assessment of tsunami-affected inundated area using geospatial analysis based tsunami run-up simulation. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1062, 012036.
Firdaus, K., Matin, A. M. A., Nurisman, N., & Magdalena, I. (2022). Numerical study for Sunda Strait Tsunami wave propagation and its mitigation by mangroves in Lampung, Indonesia. Results in Engineering, 16, 100605-100616.
Gani, S. A., Yusuf, Y. Q., & Yusuf, R. (2023). Implementing the disaster education program at an elementary school in the devastating tsunami affected area: A case study in Aceh, Indonesia. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 44(3), 947-958.
Gelfi, M., Kencana, E. R., & Achiari, H. (2021, March). Tsunami Wave Transformation in Selesung Bay (Lampung). IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 698, 012027.
Genc, F. Z., Yildiz, S., Kaya, E., & Bilgili, N. (2022). Disaster literacy levels of individuals aged 18–60 years and factors affecting these levels: A web-based cross-sectional study. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 76, 102991.
Grau Vila, C. (2024). Tohoku resilient schools and youth engagement in memory after 2011 tsunami. Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 33(5), 641-657.
Gülsoy, A., Uyan, Y., Özcan, E., & Durmuş, M. (2025). The relationship between disaster literacy levels and disaster preparedness among adults. Natural Hazards, 121, 10667–10681.
Han, J., & Lee, Y. (2021). Aging and disaster literacy: Understanding the vulnerability of rural elderly populations. Aging & Society, 41(10), 2178–2196.
Harada, T., Shoji, M., & Takafuji, Y. (2023). Intergenerational spillover effects of school-based disaster education: Evidence from Indonesia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 85, 103505-103518.
Hasan, M. K., Moriom, M., Shuprio, S. I. M., Younos, T. B., & Chowdhury, M. A. (2022) Exploring disaster preparedness of students at university in Bangladesh. Natural Hazards, 111, 817–849.
Herowati, D. K. (2022). Augmented reality-based media to improve disaster preparedness for junior high school students. 5th International Conference on Current Issues in Education (ICCIE 2021) (pp. 164-168).
Ibtihaj, I., Suparno, S., Septyandy, M. R., Jabbar, G. A., & Astuti, T. R. P. (2022). Indonesia paleotsunami database as an effort to reduce the tsunami disasters in Indonesia. E3S Web of Conferences, 340, 01001.
İşleyen, E. K., Serpen, E., Boztoprak, Z., Çınkır, Ö. N., & Çınar, E. (2025). Disaster literacy and preparedness among Turkish citizens: A national cross-sectional study. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 19(2), e51–e59.
Jumadi, J., Priyono, K. D., Amin, C., Saputra, A., Gomez, C., Lam, K. C., Rohman, A., Patel, N., Sattar, F., Nawaz, M., & Wardani, K. S. (2025). Tsunami risk mapping and sustainable mitigation strategies for megathrust earthquake scenario in Pacitan Coastal Areas, Indonesia. Sustainability, 17(6), 2564-2583.
Kawamoto, M., & Matsuda, T. (2023). Integrating disaster literacy education into school curricula: Lessons from Japan. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 14(4), 589–602.
Khairunnisa, K., Abubakar, Y., & Sugianto, D. (2021). Do disaster literacy and mitigation policy affect residents resettling in tsunami prone areas? Study from the city of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Forum Geografi, 35(1) ,38-48.
Kim, S., & Park, H. (2023). Gender differences in disaster literacy and preparedness behaviors in South Korea. Safety Science, 159(1), 106023.
Kurnio, H., Fekete, A., Naz, F., Norf, C., & Jüpner, R. (2021). Resilience learning and indigenous knowledge of earthquake risk in Indonesia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 62, 102423-102434.
Lahcene, E., Ioannou, I., Suppasri, A., Pakoksung, K., Paulik, R., Syamsidik, S., Bouchette, F., & Imamura, F. (2021). Characteristics of building fragility curves for seismic and non-seismic tsunamis: case studies of the 2018 Sunda Strait, 2018 Sulawesi–Palu, and 2004 Indian Ocean tsunamis. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 21(8), 2313-2344.
Lee, R., White, C. J., Adnan, M. S. G., Douglas, J., Mahecha, M. D., O'Loughlin, F. E., Patelli, E., Ramos, A. M., Roberts, M. J., Martius, O., Tubaldi, E., van den Hurk, B., Ward, P. J., & Zscheischler, J. (2024). Reclassifying historical disasters: From single to multi-hazards. Science of the Total Environment, 912, 169120-169133.
Lee, S., & Kim, H. (2023). The role of digital media in improving disaster literacy: Evidence from coastal communities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 91(3), 103789.
Liao, K.-M., & Hu, Y.-J. (2025). Factors influencing disaster preparedness behaviors of older adults. PLOS ONE, 20(2), e0315617.
Lin, C. J., & Wu, C. H. (2021). Disaster literacy and household preparedness in Taiwan: A structural equation modeling approach. Natural Hazards Review, 22(3), 04021018.
Logayah, D. S., Maryani, E., Ruhimat, M., & Wiyanarti, E. (2024) Investigating natural disaster literacy levels. IOP Conference Series Earth Environment Science, 1314, 012008.
Luthfi, M., Suppasri, A., & Comfort, L. K. (2020). The 22 December 2018 Mount Anak Krakatau volcanogenic tsunami on Sunda Strait coasts, Indonesia: tsunami and damage characteristics. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 20(2), 549-565.
Mardika, M. G. I., Mashuri, M., & Safaraz, M. D. (2024). Study of modeling and mapping of tsunami inundation at Tanjung Setia Beach Lampung Province by utilizing Delft3d software. Jurnal Infrastruktur, 10(2), 123-133.
Murti, D. C. W., Marta, R. F., Almuntarizi, A., & Manalu, T. D. (2023). Analysis of collective memory of tsunami disasters: A comparative study between Japan and Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Communication, 12(1), 114-134.
Mustakim, N. S., Lateh, H., & Razali, M. Z. (2020). Keberkesanan program kesedaran bencana tsunami: Kajian kes di Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah (The effectiveness of tsunami disaster awareness programme: A case study in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah). Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 16(2), 66-79.
Muzani, M., Mataburu, I. B., & Tafiati, T. (2024). Vulnerability and tsunami disaster on the west coast Banten province, Indonesia. All Earth, 36(1), 1-12.
Nagata, T., Ikeda, M., Kimura, R., & Oda, T. (2022). Development of tsunami disaster risk reduction education program for children with no experience of earthquake disaster–Practice and verification at Shichigahama Town, Miyagi Prefecture. Journal of Disaster Research, 17(6), 1000-1014.
Nuraziz, S., Maryani, E., & Yani, A. (2023). The effect disaster literacy on students’ preparedness mitigating tsunami in coastal area Pangandaran. Jurnal Geografi Gea, 23(1), 60-66.
Nurdin, M., et al. (2022). Community participation and disaster literacy: A case from rural Indonesia. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 13(6), 712–726.
Petraroli, I., & Baars, R. (2022). To be a woman in Japan: Disaster vulnerabilities and gendered discourses in disaster preparedness in Japan. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 70, 102767.
Pohan, R. A., Ramadhani, E., Marimbun, M., Chalidaziah, W., Nengsih, N., & Marhaban, M. (2024). Disaster preparedness and safety curriculum for early childhood education in Indonesia. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 39(2), 228–229.
Ponangsera, I. S., Kurniadi, A., Puspitosari, D. A., & Hartono, D. (2021). Determination of tsunami run-up and golden time in the megathrust subduction zone of the sunda strait segment. E3S Web of Conferences, 331, 07007.
Prasad, V., & Nigam, B. (2023). Role of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge in Disaster Management. In Indigenous Knowledge and Disaster Risk Reduction: Insight Towards Perception, Response, Adaptation and Sustainability (pp. 19-34). Springer International
Publishing.
Prasetyaningsih, P., Kaniawati, I., Riza, L. S., & Utama, J. A. (2025). Evaluating research trends and gaps in disaster literacy within science education: A bibliometric perspective. Journal Evaluation in Education (JEE), 6(1), 138-149.
Putri, S. M. E., Wahono, E. P., Muhammad Reza, & Azkia, L. I. (2024). The urban coastal settlement management strategy of Bumi Waras sub-district, Bandar Lampung. Coastal and Ocean Journal, 8(2), 8-19.
Rahman, M., et al. (2022). Socioeconomic determinants of disaster literacy in developing nations. Sustainability, 14(7), 3844.
Rezaldi, M. Y., Yoganingrum, A., Hanifa, N. R., Kaneda, Y., Kushadiani, S. K., Prasetyadi, A., Nugroho, B., & Riyanto, A. M. (2021). Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Photogrammetric Technique for 3d tsunamis safety Modeling in Cilacap, Indonesia. Applied Sciences, 11(23), 11310.
Riantini, M., Zakaria, W. A., Listiana, I., Ulfa, P. N., Mutolib, A., & Widyastuti, R. A. D. (2021). Impact of the Sunda Strait tsunami on fish production and environment in South Lampung Regency, Lampung. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 739, 012021.
Riskianingrum, D., & Yogaswara, H. (2022). The fading of disaster memory in Pulau Sebesi: A historical construction. E3S Web of Conferences, 340, 05008.
Riskianingrum, D., Tangkilisan, Y. B., Kanumoyoso, B., & Yogaswara, H. (2024). Risk culture on Sebesi Island: Examining the interplay of nature and culture from 1883 to 2018. Critical Island Studies 2023 Conference (CISC 2023).
Royo, M. G., Ahmed, I., Meilianda, E., & Parikh, P. (2024). WASH recommendations for improving disaster preparedness and recovery in schools in Indonesia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 114, 104924.
Rumambi, F. J., & Sari, D. N. (2023). Is the tourism business ready to face the threat of tsunami disaster? (Case study of coastal area of North Lombok Regency). Jurnal Wilayah dan Lingkungan, 11(1), 78-91.
Sabani, W., & Trihatmoko, E. (2021). Participatory mapping of tsunami evacuation routes (Case study of Karangbenda Village Cilacap Regency). IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 884, 012033.
Sahana, M., Patel, P. P., Rehman, S., Rahaman, M. H., Masroor, M., Imdad, K., & Sajjad, H. (2023). Assessing the effectiveness of existing early warning systems and emergency preparedness towards reducing cyclone-induced losses in the Sundarban Biosphere Region, India. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 90, 103645.
Salah, P., & Sasaki, J. (2021). Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward tsunamis: A local survey in the southern coast of Iran. Sustainability, 13(2), 449.
Santos, M., & Ortega, R. (2023). Simulation-based disaster education to enhance community literacy. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 90(2), 103817.
Saregar, A., Putra, F. G., Diani, R., Anugrah, A., Misbah, M., & Umam, R. (2025). Innovative integrated disaster education in physics learning: An effort to enhance students’ disaster literacy skills. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 14(2).
Sheehy, K., Vackova, P., Van Manen, S., Saragih Turnip, S., Rofiah, K., & Twiner, A. (2024). Inclusive disaster risk reduction education for Indonesian children. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 28(11), 2529-2545.
Suhadha, A. G., & Julzarika, A. (2022). Dynamic displacement using DInSAR of Sentinel-1 Sunda Strait. Trends in Sciences, 19(13), 4623-4623.
Susanti, D., & Pradjoko, D. (2023). The impact of coastal pollution on socio-economic life of Sukaraja fishermen 2008-2015. International Review of Humanities Studies, 7(1), 44-60.
Takahashi, M., Inoguchi, M., & Kimura, R. (2025). Studies on disaster prevention literacy: A review. Journal of Disaster Research, 20(2), 150-159.
Tanaka, K., & Hasegawa, T. (2023). Understanding tsunami literacy in Japanese coastal communities. Progress in Disaster Science, 18(1), 100315.
Thompson, A. R., Little, K., & Kim, Y. K. (2024). Emergency preparedness among community-dwelling older adults: Risk and protective factors. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 49(2), 307–328.
Torpus, K., Usta, G., Çinar Özbay, S., & Kanbay, Y. (2024). The effect of disaster preparedness literacy on individual disaster resilience. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 18(e247), 1-8.
Torpus, K., Usta, G., Özbay, S. Ç., & Kanbay, Y. (2024). Disaster literacy and resilience among community members: A correlational study. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 18(3), e247–e256.
Triyoso, W., Kongko, W., Prasetya, G. S., & Suwondo, A. (2024). Study on earthquake and tsunami hazard: evaluating Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Function (PSHF) and potential tsunami height simulation in the coastal cities of Sumatra Island. Frontiers in Built Environment, 10, 1310251.
Wicaksono, W., Desportes, I., & Sopaheluwakan, J. (2024). Disaster cultures and the Indonesia Tsunami Early Warning System:(mis) alignments revealed by the 2018 non-tectonic tsunami in Labuan. The Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 39(1), 34-40.
Widodo, S., Abdurrahman, A., Utami, R. K. S., Suhendro, S., & Azis, D. (2025). Identification of priority areas vulnerable to tsunamis along the coastal zone of Bandar Lampung City. E3S Web of Conferences, 652, 04003.
Yang, X., Xu, L., Zhang, X., & Ding, S. (2023). Spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns and driving factors of vulnerability to natural disasters in China from 2000 to 2020. International journal of disaster risk reduction, 95, 103890.
Yusof, N. S. M., Akhir, N. M., & Rajaratnam, S. (2024). Tindakan komuniti dalam pengurusan bencana banjir: Sorotan naratif. e-BANGI, 21(3), 450-460.
Yusuf, R., Gopinath, S., Gani, S. A., & Fajri, I. (2024). Integrating disaster preparedness into the elementary school curriculum in tsunami-prone areas: A review. Sekumpul: Journal of Multidisciplinary Education Sciences, 2(1), 33-42.
Yusuf, R., Yunus, M., Maimun, M., & Fajri, I. (2022). Environmental education: A correlational study among environmental literacy, disaster knowledge, environmental sensitivity, and clean-living behavior of post tsunami disaster in Aceh communities, Indonesia. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 31(1).
Zainol, N. A. M., Rosian, N. H., Rosmiza, M. Z., & Yaacob, S. (2022). Pengurusan risiko bencana: Membentuk kesedaran komuniti terhadap peredaan dan persiapan. Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 18(2), 48-62.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.