Beware of major floods next year, expert warns
YOGYAKARTA (JP): An expert has warned the public to prepare for the coming monsoon as huge floods may occur during January and February, especially in the provinces of Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java.
Sudibyakto of the Center for the Studies of Natural Disasters at Gadjah Mada University said downpours were expected this month and next. "However, the rains in these two months will not yet cause flooding as most of the water will be absorbed into the ground," he said.
The peak of the rainy season for the three above provinces is expected to be between January and February.
"There will be a great possibility of floods at that time, as the soil will already be saturated," he said when addressing Monday's opening of a workshop on the use of information networking for the management of natural disasters.
Sudibyakto talked about how Indonesia was prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, drought, tidal waves and tropical storms.
Many natural disasters take place in remote areas not readily accessible due to difficult terrain. Communication means in such areas are also limited. Sudibyakto said this was why it was urgent to establish, via the Internet, a computerized information network linking all natural disaster management agencies across Indonesia.
Haze-free
The severe drought has caused a multitude of problems in the country, including forest fires, food shortages, choking haze and illness. The number of deaths from drought-related illnesses in Irian Jaya, according to Antara, has reached 528, consisting of 430 in Jayawijaya regency, 74 in Merauke regency and 24 in Puncak Jaya regency.
Many airports had been closed for weeks due to poor visibility caused by haze.
Antara reported from Palangkaraya, however, that for the first time in weeks, Central Kalimantan was free from smog on Monday and yesterday. Tjilik Riwut Airport, closed for the past three months, was reopened for all 17 daily flights.
Other airports in the province, which was among the worst affected by haze, were also reopened. They were Iskandar Airport in Pangkalan Bun; H. Asan in Sampit; Beringin in Muara Teweh; and Sanggu in Buntok, and two small airstrips in Kuala Kurun and Kuala Pembuang.
Palangkaraya returned to normal yesterday with streets becoming busy as visibility improved.
Some parts of West Java and Jakarta also saw rain, with some areas experiencing floods.
From Wamena, Irian Jaya, came another report that a three- member relief mission from the United States Embassy in Jakarta failed Monday morning to reach Silimoi village, Kurima subdistrict in Jayawijaya regency because of thick smoky haze blanketing the area. The area has been hit by drought.
The Jayawijaya regional administration secretary, Frans Kristantus, said in Wamena Monday that the helicopter carrying the officials could not land because of the smog. The mission then went to Obolma village by car.
According to the meteorology and geophysics office in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency has been covered with thick smog for the past week and the haze grew thicker, reducing visibility even further, sometimes to only 100 meters.
All eight sorties by helicopter and MAF Cessna small aircraft to the disaster-stricken locations on Monday had to be canceled due to thick smog, so that relief aid, including tons of food and medication, accumulated in Wamena. (23/swe)