'Chris' blows strongly, Bali stays on alert

Rita A. Widiadana The Jakarta Post Denpasar

Cyclone Chris, which has whipped up waters off Bali and East Nusa Tenggara, intensified yesterday to a speed of around 150 kilometers per hour in the eastern Indian Ocean, compared to 108 kilometers per hour the previous day.

Suarsa, an official from the Bali chapter of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), said that the increase in wind speeds had also affected the currents in waters south of Java.

Suarsa warned that waves off Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara had reached a height of between one and three meters and that the sea temperature had risen to 31 degrees Celcius. "The full impact on the cyclone will be monitored today," he said.

BMG has been coordinating with related agencies including provincial administrations, Bali's police precinct and environmental agencies and non-government organizations.

Meanwhile, Cok Budiana, head of the Bali Beach Conservation Project, said that the cyclone would certainly create environmental problems for the island's waters. "Some beaches in Bali including Sanur, Kuta, Nusa Dua and Tanah Lot in Tabanan are vulnerable to any natural changes, including the impact of a cyclone," he said.

The cyclone could cause erosion and displace sea sands, which could in turn increase the sea level and damage coral reefs, Budiana explained.

Serious flooding in Jakarta has also had severe impacts in northern Bali.

"The flooding and landslides in Buleleng regency were an indirect impact from Jakarta," he said. The strong current in the northern Javanese sea caused the sea water currents in northern Bali to increase substantially, Buadiana said.

He added that around 27 kilometers of Bali's total coastline of 430 kilometers had been badly damaged. "In anticipating possible floods or erosion, our major focus is on closely monitoring the 2.8 kilometer stretch of beach near the Ngurah Rai International Airport," he said.

Denpasar, he said, was topographically similar to Jakarta. "Certain measures have already been taken to protect the city from flooding." The construction of cribs and artificial gulf areas on Kuta beach, for instance, would be able to prevent seawater from penetrating the city.

Oetom Hasibuan, technical director of Bali's Public Works Agency, revealed the agency's contingency plans for possible thunderstorms and floods.

"We have established a special flood control team which is coordinating with relevant agencies and regional administrations to immediately implement necessary contingency plans," he said.

The Public Works Agency has prepared thousands of sandbags, heavy equipment and other equipment to be used in the event of a disaster.

While Bali is still dependent on other islands, especially Java, for the distribution of staple foods and other daily needs, several measures have been taken in anticipation of food shortages.

I Ketut Mendra, chief of Bali's Trade and Industry Office, told The Jakarta Post that some distribution spots in Java including Situbondo in East Java had been cut off due to severe flooding. "We will find alternative means of transportation such as sea transportation to ensure that food distribution is safe," he said.

Currently, Bali needs about 32,000 tons of rice a month, some of which is procured from Java. "Other daily products such as vegetable oil, butter, baby milk and soybean sauces will also be prioritized," he said.

If necessary, Bali has secured food supplies for one to three months, Mendra added.

In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, six ferries and ships operated by state-owned PT ASDP stopped running due to high waves in waters surrounding the province and West Nusa Tenggara, while local people were put on alert about possible torrential rains and strong winds that could cause flash flooding on hundreds of islands in the province.

Torrential rain, flash flooding and landslides on Tuesday caused havoc along Australia's east coast, which was blackened just a month ago by hundreds of bushfires.

Two hospitals were evacuated and commuters faced major road closures for a second day as parts of freeways disappeared under water and water flooded the foyers of Sydney office blocks.

In Western Australia, remote coastal communities were put on alert as the cyclone, packing destructive winds and heavy rain, bore down on them.

Cyclone Chris was about 195 kilometers (120 miles) west of the tourist resort town of Broome early Tuesday, moving southwest at 8 kilometers per hour (5 mph), the bureau of meteorology said.