Minister warns about threat from 'La Nina'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Communications Giri Suseno warned the nation yesterday about the threat of floods, violent tropical storms and landslides brought about by the arrival of the La Nina weather phenomenon.

The minister urged the people to take measures to anticipate possible disasters starting from this month. He said the unpredictable weather patterns could last until the first quarter of next year.

He said the phenomenon began last month when torrential floods swept through several places in Indonesia.

"This natural phenomenon generally lasts for between eight to 12 months. Its impact will therefore be extreme and will likely continue to be felt well into the first quarter of 1999," Antara quoted Giri as saying yesterday.

La Nina, which means "the little sister", arises from unusually cool temperatures in the Pacific ocean and often follows the drought-inducing El Nino weather pattern.

During the El Nino cycle last year Indonesia experienced its most severe drought in the last 50 years. Forest fires burned uncontrolled on Sumatra and Kalimantan, and so seriously affected was the country's agricultural production that hundreds of people died of starvation in Irian Jaya.

The head of the National Research and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Harinto, had earlier warned the country's 27 provincial governors and 250-plus regents of the imminent threat of flooding.

"We must learn from the experience of 1997 when we were hit by El Nino," he said.

Officials at the Office of Meteorology and Geophysics (BMG) said Indonesia had technically entered the dry season last month.

They said La Nina's arrival could be detected by the heavy rains in the East Kalimantan capital of Samarinda which caused a dam to burst. Four people died in the resulting flood and 100,000 had to be evacuated.

Minister Giri cited the north coast of Java, east Sumatra, Bali, Lombok, Flores, Sumbawa and Irian Jaya as the regions most vulnerable to flooding.

The minister pointed out the government was currently training local people to manage search and rescue efforts in anticipation of a higher incidence of natural disasters. (prb)