Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) continues to strengthen its commitment to fostering a culture of disaster preparedness by organizing an earthquake evacuation drill led by the Civil Engineering Study Program on Wednesday (July 22, 2026). The activity was carried out as part of the Disaster Management course, providing members of the academic community with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in responding to emergency situations. The initiative is particularly relevant given the earthquake risks associated with the southern coast of Java, an area closely monitored by disaster experts.
Nurmansyah Alami, M.T., a lecturer in the Civil Engineering Study Program and coordinator of the Disaster Management course, explained that disaster preparedness is an essential skill for everyone on campus. According to him, Purworejo's geographical location in an earthquake-prone region means that understanding disaster theory alone is not enough—people must also be ready to respond effectively when an emergency occurs.
"Purworejo is one of Indonesia's earthquake-prone regions. Experts have repeatedly warned about the potential threat of a megathrust earthquake. This is not merely speculation but a scientific reality. Through this simulation, we introduced proper evacuation procedures directly to our students and the entire campus community," he said.
The simulation was designed to mirror real emergency conditions by involving three groups of students, each assigned responsibilities corresponding to different stages of disaster management. Civil Engineering students took charge of the pre-disaster phase by designing evacuation routes, installing directional signs, identifying assembly points, and introducing the principles of disaster-resilient building design.
During the emergency response phase, members of Mapala Suri and the Indonesian Red Cross Student Volunteer Corps (KSR) conducted search, rescue, and victim evacuation procedures. Meanwhile, the Psychosocial Community was responsible for post-disaster recovery by providing initial psychological support and trauma healing for survivors.
Nurmansyah emphasized that the collaboration among these student organizations was intended to give participants a comprehensive understanding of disaster response.
"We brought these three components together so students could gain real-life experience. While disasters cannot be prevented, their impacts can certainly be minimized. When an emergency occurs, everyone should already understand their respective roles and responsibilities," he explained.
Throughout the one-day program, participants installed evacuation route stickers at strategic locations across campus buildings before taking part in a full-scale earthquake evacuation exercise. The simulation is expected to become an important step toward developing UMPWR into a disaster-resilient campus.
Looking ahead, the Civil Engineering Study Program plans to expand similar initiatives by organizing a fire emergency simulation in collaboration with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the local Fire and Rescue Department, further strengthening disaster preparedness across the university.
Concluding the activity, Nurmansyah encouraged the entire academic community to recognize that living in a disaster-prone area should not be a source of fear, but rather a motivation to improve preparedness and resilience.
"We want to raise awareness that we live in a region vulnerable to natural disasters. We may not be able to avoid them, but we can learn how to live safely alongside these risks by knowing how to evacuate ourselves and help others when necessary," he concluded.
