Short answer. Indonesia has no network of blast or fallout shelters. Public protection relies on tsunami evacuation buildings and hills (Tempat Evakuasi Sementara, TES) in high-risk coastal areas, and on locally agreed assembly points and evacuation routes 1. After a coastal earthquake, BNPB says to reach high ground within the first 10 minutes without waiting for official instructions 1.
What kind of public shelter exists?
Only tsunami evacuation sites: buildings and hills designated as TES in coastal areas at high risk. No civil-defence shelter for blast, fallout or chemical protection was found.
How many tsunami evacuation buildings are there?
This figure is not confirmed. A Ministry of Public Works (PUPR) release reports 12 TES built with BNPB in 2014-2015, in Padang, Bengkulu, Denpasar, Bantul, Pangandaran, Pandeglang, North Lombok and Aceh, and handed to local governments in 2017 2. That page could not be opened from outside Indonesia; the same figures appear in January 2019 press reports of the release. TES built later by local governments are not counted nationally on any page read for this file.
How do I find my nearest evacuation point?
- Ask your local disaster agency (BPBD) or your village or neighbourhood (RT/RW) where the TES and evacuation route are.
- Agree with your family on one main and one backup assembly point outside the home, as BNPB recommends 1.
- Check local hazard maps on BNPB's inaRISK portal (https://inarisk.bnpb.go.id/).
For a written plan, see /guides/family-plan.
What is the 10-minute rule?
BNPB calls the first 10 minutes after a coastal earthquake "golden": "Setelah gempa, 10 menit emas untuk segera ke tempat tinggi ... Fokus pada evakuasi ke tempat tinggi tanpa menunggu instruksi resmi." In English: after an earthquake, 10 golden minutes to get to high ground; focus on evacuating to high ground without waiting for official instructions 1. Natural signs such as strong or vertical shaking, the sea receding or a roaring sound mean go at once 1. See /guides/tsunami and the alerts page.
Is there anywhere to shelter from a nuclear or chemical event?
No public shelter for these hazards was found. Indonesia has no nuclear power plant, only research reactors (see iodine). General advice on staying indoors is in /guides/chemical-shelter-in-place and /guides/shelter-or-evacuate.
Frequently asked questions
Does Indonesia have bomb shelters?
No network of blast or fallout shelters was found. The public sites that exist are tsunami evacuation buildings and hills 1.
Should I wait for a siren before evacuating?
No. BNPB says to head for high ground within the first 10 minutes after a strong coastal earthquake, without waiting for official instructions 1.
Who manages the TES near me?
According to the PUPR release, which could not be opened directly, the 2014-2015 buildings were handed to local governments 2. Ask your BPBD.
Sources
- BNPB (Pusat Data, Informasi dan Komunikasi Kebencanaan) — Keluarga Siaga Bencana – Panduan Anti Panik Saat Gempa, Banjir & Krisis Darurat — https://perpustakaan.bnpb.go.id/inlislite/uploaded_files/temporary/DigitalCollection/OThjMzRiZDFlMDU2OWYzNzQ5ZjliYWI0Nzg3ODkxMTQxNTE0NDIzNg==.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan Perumahan Rakyat — Tingkatkan Kesiapsiagaan, Pemda Diharapkan Optimalkan Tempat Evakuasi Sementara (TES) — https://pu.go.id/berita/tingkatkan-kesiapsiagaan-pemda-diharapkan-optimalkan-tempat-evakuasi-sementara-tes- (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Indonesia, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- BNPB (Pusat Data, Informasi dan Komunikasi Kebencanaan) · Keluarga Siaga Bencana – Panduan Anti Panik Saat Gempa, Banjir & Krisis Darurat checked 2026-10-20
- Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan Perumahan Rakyat · Tingkatkan Kesiapsiagaan, Pemda Diharapkan Optimalkan Tempat Evakuasi Sementara (TES) checked 2026-10-20