Experts warn of natural disasters

Experts warn of natural disasters

JAKARTA (JP): Experts are predicting that it will get even
wetter in Indonesia before it gets dryer and say the public
should be prepared for the floods and landslides that may result.

Chief of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, Karjoto
Santokusumo, said yesterday that rainfall between this month and
February would be "above normal" in most parts of Indonesia.

The agency forecasts rainfall exceeding 50-millimeters per day
and winds of more than 34 knots (68 kilometers) per hour.

A number of regions are expected to receive even higher
rainfall. Most of South Sumatra, the south and central parts of
West Java, western Lampung, northern East Kalimantan and southern
Central Kalimantan are likely to have rainfall exceeding 100mm
per day.

In January, rainfall will be above normal levels in most of
West Java, Central Java, East Java, southern and eastern Lampung,
Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara.

East Timor, eastern and southern East Kalimantan, South
Kalimantan, most of South Sulawesi, southeast Maluku and Merauke
are also set to experience a wetter-than-usual wet season.

In February, unusually high rainfall is to be expected in the
northern area of South Sulawesi, most of Central Sulawesi,
Southeast Sulawesi, the north of North Sulawesi and most of Irian
Jaya.

As of late last month, heavy rains had already caused floods
and landslides in many parts of Aceh, Central Java and West Java.

Karjoto said the agency's weather forecasting accuracy rate is
85 percent.

Director General of Irrigation Soeparmono said that, during
the fifth Five-Year Development Plan, which ended in March 1994,
floods hit 750,000 hectares of land.

Soeparmono added that, for past 10 years, the government has
spent Rp 1.075 billion to redevelop areas which were hit by
floods.

Between April and November this year, the Ministry of Social
Affairs has recorded a total of 617 disasters, both natural and
non-natural, such as fires. These have taken 255 lives, according
to ministry records. The estimated financial loss resulting has
been more than Rp 186 billion, the ministry said.

The meteorology and geophysics agency currently has 160
stations throughout the country. Experts say that, ideally, the
agency would have 400 stations. The government says it will
double the number of stations by the end of the current sixth
Five-Year Development Plan in 1999.(31)