Rainfall this month still normal, says BMG<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Rainfall in the capital this month has been
\nnormal, but heavy rains might be recorded by the end of this year
\nand reach a peak in January, according to an official.<\/p>\n
Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) spokesman Wa'antarmin
\nsaid on Wednesday that rainfall since early October here marked
\nthe beginning of the annual rainy season.<\/p>\n
The rainfall measured so far this month by the BMG is
\nconsidered to be normal, with an average of 92 millimeters per
\nhour, he said.<\/p>\n
But, he said, the impact of the La Nina weather phenomenon
\nwould increase the amount by 15 percent.<\/p>\n
\"However, we can't say that a significant increase in rainfall
\nwill cause heavy flooding because floods are not mainly caused by
\nheavy rainfall,\" Wa'antarmin said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Bay's high tide, the vast amount of garbage clogging
\ncanals and massive water flows from mountainous areas in the
\nsouth, such as Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur, play strong roles in
\nflooding here, he explained.<\/p>\n
Wa'antarmin therefore reminded Jakartans to stay vigilant
\nagainst the possibility of a major flood.<\/p>\n
Early August, BMG warned Jakartans that the La Nina weather
\nphenomenon, which arises from unusually cool temperatures in the
\nPacific Ocean, could intensify flooding during this year's rainy
\nseason.<\/p>\n
The agency has predicted that floods in the city could be
\nworse than that in 1996, when some of Jakarta's 10 million
\ninhabitants endured the most widespread flooding in the city's
\nhistory.<\/p>\n
The central government plans to allocate Rp 93 billion to the
\nJakarta administration for a massive flood prevention program.<\/p>\n
But a lecturer at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture said last
\nmonth that BMG's forecasts were baseless, saying La Nina would
\nnot play a significant role in any future floods as predicted by
\nthe agency.<\/p>\n
Hidayat Pawitan, a lecturer at the institute's Geophysics and
\nMeteorology Department, said: \"The effects of the La Nina
\nphenomenon in the form of heavier rain happen only during the dry
\nseason. During the rainy season, the impacts of La Nina are
\nusually offset by the domination of the monsoon.\"<\/p>\n
Early this week, the city's flood prevention team said the
\nfive observation stations along the Ciliwung and Pesanggrahan
\nrivers had recorded a significant increase in water levels in the
\nrivers.<\/p>\n
Ciliwung and Pesanggrahan are the two main rivers that cross
\nthe capital from the south to the north.<\/p>\n
One of the team's officials, Sumanta, said the level of the
\ntwo rivers had risen to 165 centimeters from the normal level of
\n100 centimeters.<\/p>\n
Most flood-prone areas in Jakarta would become inundated if
\nthe levels of the two rivers reached the emergency level of 200
\ncentimeters, he said.<\/p>\n
The five 24-hour observation stations are located in
\nPulogadung, Pesanggrahan, Manggarai, Karet and Depok. (ivy\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rainfall-this-month-still-normal-says-bmg-1447893297",
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