Extreme Weather: Nganjuk Residents Urged Not to Shelter Under Large Trees
The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Nganjuk Regency, East Java, has urged residents to be vigilant against extreme weather, including strong winds that could potentially cause trees to fall.
BPBD Nganjuk Executive Head Sutomo said residents must remain alert to potential extreme weather and should avoid sheltering under large trees or billboards.
“Avoid sheltering under large trees or billboards, and immediately report any emergency incidents in your area so that they can be dealt with swiftly,” he said in Nganjuk on Sunday (22 February).
He added that extreme weather featuring heavy rain accompanied by strong winds had toppled a large tree in Baron subdistrict, Nganjuk Regency. The tree, measuring 80 centimetres in diameter, fell shortly after heavy rain and strong winds struck the area.
In addition to the extreme weather, the tree trunk was also believed to have been decayed.
“It was a jaranan tree with a diameter of approximately 80 centimetres. The rain was quite heavy and the tree fell, believed to be due to the decayed condition of the trunk,” he said.
His team was immediately deployed to the incident site in Garu Village, Baron subdistrict. The fallen tree trunk disrupted traffic flow, as it blocked access to the Lengkong-Kertosono main road in Nganjuk.
The team also worked collectively to clear the tree trunk. The clearing process involved sawing the trunk and then removing it. All trunks and branches were cleared away.
The operation briefly caused traffic congestion. However, officers swiftly managed the situation, allowing road users to continue driving slowly through the area.
In the incident, there were no casualties or material damage. Nevertheless, the agency urged residents to exercise caution on the roads, particularly during heavy rain and wind.
Meanwhile, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in several regions of Indonesia, including East Java, today.
BMKG forecast light-intensity rainfall in parts of Sumatra, Bandung (West Java), Semarang (Central Java), Surabaya (East Java), Pontianak (West Kalimantan), and Palangkaraya (Central Kalimantan).
BMKG has urged the public to remain vigilant against potential extreme weather that may be accompanied by strong winds and lightning, and to keep updated with the latest weather information through the Info BMKG application, the official website www.bmkg.go.id, and BMKG’s official social media channels.
The public has also been reminded to anticipate potential waterlogging, flooding, and disruption to daily activities due to heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in several of these regions.