Assessing Building Vulnerability to Tsunami Hazard in Padang

Abstract

It may be necessary to carry out a study about risk analysis of building vulnerability to tsunami hazard in order to identify and develop potential tsunami risk in a coastal community. The objective of this study is  to develop a risk analysis of building vulnerability to tsunami hazard in Parupuk Tabing, Padang. The study aims to: (1) identify and develop the building vulnerability of various building types to tsunami hazard; (2) simulate the tsunami propagation; and (3) develop risk analysis of building vulnerability to tsunami hazard in Padang.  Risk level is determined by relative vulnerabilty index score of each building to a tsunami. The buildings were classified in five classes (very low risk, low, medium, high and very high). The method used to analize pattern of various types of building and tsunami inundation is by applying formulas in the field and simulating an earthquake with TUNAMI N3 Imamura method respectively. Clearly, the relative vulnerability index ranges of the building samples in Parupuk Tabing are from 3 to 5 (medium, high and very high risk). This study shows that risk components for building protection are around 30 to 40%, whereas water inundation is 33.33%, followed by building vulnerability of 22.67-33.67%. It can be estimated that, the condition can be very vulnerable, if the level of water is  more than 2 m around a building and the vulnerability of water is around 33%. The results of this study contribute to the development of risk management strategies in designing of building and construction standards as well as plan for vertical evacuation and land use zones in order to mitigate the impact of tsunami disaster in coastal communities of Padang.