BMG warns of floods and landslides

BMG warns of floods and landslides

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) has warned of
possible floods and landslides in the rainy season that is
expected to start in October.

"Let's not forget about landslides and floods as we have been
focusing more on how to overcome the current drought," BMG
forecast division head Ahmad Zakir said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Flash floods and landslides are expected to hit provinces
south of the equator, most of which are now suffering from
drought.

The equator runs from west to east, crossing Sumatra just
north of the town of Payakumbuh, to Pontianak in Kalimantan and
on to a point just to the north of Manokwari, Papua.

Java, Bali, the Nusa Tenggara islands and parts of Sumatra,
Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua all lie to the south of the
equator.

"The rainy season will start first in the western part of West
Java in October or early November," he said.

The dry season normally runs from April to October, while the
rainy season is from November to March.

Western and southern parts of West Java, western parts of
Central Java, southern parts of East Java, the Nusa Tenggara
islands, western and southern parts of South Sulawesi and South
Sulawesi will get more rainfall than other areas, or more than
400 millimeters.

As most of the provinces are among the areas hardest hit by
the drought, combined with the fact the provinces have
insufficient forests as water catchment areas, it is predicted
that those areas are prone to floods and landslides.

"Local administrations must be cautious over the issue.
Residents deserve to get early warnings so they can be prepared
prior to the floods," Zakir said.

Early this year, local administrations failed to act to lessen
the impact of floods and landslides in parts of the country
despite repeated warnings from as early as November last year
from the BMG, the State Ministry for the Environment and other
institutions.

Dozens of people died.

While local administrations continue their reforestation
programs, Zakir advised them to make comprehensive plans on how
to anticipate floods and landslides in a bid to prevent further
loss of life and property.

"Do not wait until the rainy season comes as extreme natural
phenomenon may happen anytime."

Zakir also urged people to be cautious over possible floods
and landslides in their areas and asked them to get accurate
weather information from BMG offices across the country.