BNPB Conducts Weather Modification Operation to Reduce Heavy Rainfall Risk in Jabodetabek
Jakarta — The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is conducting a weather modification operation (OMC) to reduce the potential for heavy rainfall in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) region.
Abdul Muhari, head of the BNPB’s Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, stated in a briefing in Jakarta on Monday evening that the measure is also being undertaken as a mitigation effort to reduce the risk of hydrometereological disasters in the area.
The BNPB’s Operations Control Centre noted that Jakarta has been affected by flooding and extreme weather in several areas. Heavy rainfall that fell from Saturday 7 March through Sunday 8 March caused flooding in several residential neighbourhoods.
In response to the flooding, besides conducting the weather modification operation, BNPB has also distributed logistical assistance to affected communities. The aid distributed includes food aid packages as well as non-food assistance such as blankets and mattresses to support the basic needs of residents affected by the flooding.
According to Abdul, a total of 23 villages across three subdistricts were affected by flooding due to high rainfall. As a result, 122 people were reported to have temporarily evacuated to safer locations.
Based on monitoring by the rapid response team on Sunday 8 March, water levels in several roads and residential areas were reported to be gradually receding, though there remains potential for secondary flooding in response to weather conditions that are still vulnerable to the activation of two tropical cyclone systems.
According to analysis from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the presence of two tropical cyclone systems 93S and 95W have been monitored until Monday morning in waters around Indonesia and have the potential to trigger increased rainfall in several regions including Jabodetabek.
For tropical cyclone system 93S located in the Indian Ocean south of Lampung, maximum wind speeds are approximately 30 knots with minimum air pressure of 999 hPa.
BMKG confirmed that this system has low potential to develop into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours and is expected to weaken with wind intensity decreasing to approximately 25 knots within 48 to 72 hours. This cyclone system is also inducing the formation of strong low-level jet winds and convergence zones in the Indian Ocean south of Lampung.