Cultural Coping Strategies to Mitigate Local Impact of Baribis Fault Disasters

Abstract The issue of mitigating natural disasters in various regions that the Baribis Fault passes is a matter of great importance, given the significant physical damage and loss of life that can result from such events. However, existing studies have tended to focus on the empirical aspects of such disasters resulting from the movement of the Baribis Fault, neglecting the fundamental cultural dimensions involved. Moreover, these studies have failed to recognize disaster mitigation resulting from the Baribis Fault as a socio-cultural issue that requires careful cultural analysis. To address these limitations, this study aims to investigate the strategies employed by local communities to cope with the difficulties caused by Baribis Fault-related disasters. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted on a range of cultural strategies that have been used to mitigate disasters in relevant areas. These cultural strategies were selected based on the criteria of locally based traditional oral and written knowledge, obtained through intensive interviews. The study reveals that technological and earth science solutions are not always sufficient to resolve disasters resulting from Baribis Fault activity, and that local culture and knowledge also play a crucial role in disaster mitigation. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how cultural strategies employed by local communities can help to avoid disasters caused by the Baribis Fault, and highlights the need for a transformation of local knowledge regarding effective cultural strategies for mitigating such disasters. This transformation can have positive psychological implications and enhance community harmony.