Beware of major floods next year, expert warns

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)