Head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati revealed that extreme weather strikes across Indonesia at the end of 2022, 14 provinces have been set on alert for potential extreme weather in the period December 27- December 28, 2022.
The 14 provinces include DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, West Java, DI Yogyakarta, East Java, Banten, and Bali. Then West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua and West Papua.
The potential areas that need to be alerted are taken based on the BMKG Impact-Based Forecasting information platform.
Dwikorita asked the regional government to continue to intensify socialization and education on a more massive basis to increase understanding regarding the prevention/reduction of the risk of hydrometeorological disasters, including floods, landslides, flash floods, strong winds, tornadoes, and high waves.
“The community using crossing transportation needs to increase their vigilance as an effort to adapt and mitigate these conditions,” she said.
Tourists are Stuck in Karimun Java Due to High Waves
Waves as high as 4-6 meters in Karimunjava caused inter-island crossing boats to be unable to operate so many tourists were trapped on the island.
As many as 500 tourists were evacuated, all of whom were trapped as domestic and foreign tourists could not go to Semarang for days because the freeboard boat that was supposed to take them back to Jepara or Semarang could not sail due to bad weather. While detained in Karimun Java, the most felt complaint was the limited and depleting food supplies.
Hundreds of tourists who were trapped in Karimunjawa finally arrived safely at Tanjung Emas Harbor in Semarang on Wednesday at 05.00 WIB. The tourists are picked up by the KM Kelimutu ship, it is a large ship that can carry up to 1000 passengers owned by PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Persero).
The ship was specifically assigned to evacuate tourists, it was scheduled to arrive in Karimun Java on December 30, 2022, to progress more quickly on December 27, 2022.
Also Read: 7 Things To Do in Jakarta on Rainy Days: Tourist Attractions
French Tourists Drown While Swimming on Gili Island
A female tourist from France Lidye Annie Mauricette, 50 years old is still unknown after swimming from Gili Trawangan to Gili Meno. Before swimming, she told to her two daughters.
After some hours she wasn’t coming back. So, the girls also asked the guide in front of the Wah Resort if their mother has arrived in Gili Meno. The local people of Gili Trawangan told the two children that it was impossible to make it to Gili Meno with the recent weather.
Acting Head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office (SAR), Muhdar, in Mataram said that based on the results of coordination with the SAR elements involved, the SAR operation was stopped on the seventh day.
“We stopped the search on the seventh day December 24, at 18.00 WITA with zero results. The joint SAR team has not been able to find signs of the victim’s whereabouts,” he said.
Flash Floods Hit a Number of Areas in Bali
Flash floods from overflowing rivers hit a number of areas in Jembrana Regency, Bali causing damage to several infrastructures such as bridges.
“Our team has gone down to disaster-hit locations, and we are continuing to monitor. This disaster was a due to overflow of water from the river,” said Jembrana Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) head I Putu Agus Artana Putra.
He said heavy rains in the upper reaches of the river caused the rivers in Jembrana to overflow to the riverside land.
Not only that several areas in Bali like Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu are also affected by extreme weather which causes congestion due to high stagnant water on the road. Apart from that many other activities are disrupted due to rain and wind that occur continuously for several days.
Potential for Flooding in Jakarta
The DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) is alert to the potential for flooding due to heavy rains which are predicted to occur during the 2023 Christmas and New Year periods.
Quoting BMKG predictions, BPBD DKI said that the capital city area would also experience a significant increase in rainfall accompanied by lightning and thunder until January 1, 2023.
Apart from that, said Michael, the BPBD will also prepare 267 Disaster Management personnel in every urban village in Jakarta in an effort to accelerate disaster coordination and management. This includes ensuring the readiness of disaster management posts and evacuation sites.
Rain Predicted for Java and Bali on New Year’s Eve
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) estimates that the Java region, in particular, Jabodetabek to Bali will receive rain on New Year’s Eve 2023. BMKG forecast for 31 December 2022 to 1 January 2023. Not only Jabodetabek, but BMKG forecasts also show that the majority of provinces in Indonesia will receive rain on New Year’s Eve.
BMKG recommends that related parties ensure infrastructure capacity and water resources management systems are ready to anticipate increased rainfall and extreme weather.
