Edukasi dan Simulasi Gempa Bumi Bagi Siswa SD Negeri 1 Lateri, Ambon

Abstract

Earthquakes are among the most impactful geological disasters, posing significant threats to human safety and infrastructure, particularly in high-risk regions such as Ambon City. It is essential to instill an understanding of earthquake hazards and disaster risk reduction from an early age, especially among elementary school students who are considered a vulnerable group. This community engagement activity was conducted at SD Negeri 1 Lateri, Ambon, a school located in an area affected by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake in 2019 that damaged 2,675 houses. The main objective was to enhance students’ knowledge and preparedness for earthquakes through a child-friendly educational approach. The methods included interactive lectures, group discussions, and structured pre- and pos-tests using questionnaires. The results showed a significant improvement in students’ understanding of earthquake causes, with 100% of the participants correctly identifying tectonic plate movement as the main factor after the educational session, compared to no prior understanding. There was also a notable positive shift in emotional response, with the number of students who reported feeling calm and prepared during an earthquake increasing from 4% to 40%. Awareness of appropriate actions during an earthquake also rose, with all students (100%) choosing to remain calm and wait for assistance, up from 67% before the session. However, misconceptions were still found in the evacuation procedure, as 35% of students indicated they would use escalators or elevators to exit during an earthquake. These findings suggest that lecture-based education is effective in improving initial awareness but insufficient for achieving full preparedness. Therefore, it is recommended that such educational efforts be supplemented with regular evacuation drills to ensure students not only understand but are also able to implement appropriate self-rescue measures during an actual earthquake.