Weather conditions dampen holiday season for travelers

JAKARTA (JP): This season will probably be the toughest one for the anticipated millions of commuters in Java with three major national holidays -- Christmas, Idul Fitri and New Year -- all falling in sequence.

The situation this year is further compounded by weather conditions which have caused massive floods and landslides.

"We have alerted all related institutions such as state-owned train company PT KAI, the communication ministry and bus operators of areas that are prone to floods or landslides," said Soenarno, Director General for Rural Development of the Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure.

While it is hard to predict precisely when it will occur, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) has predicted that heavy downpour will likely continue.

There are at least 15 main "wet spots" along the northern coast of Java and 12 along the southern side of the island.

The ministry is also expecting 10 rivers to overflow in the southern part of Java between Cilacap and Purworejo, both in Central Java.

The busiest destinations are expected to be in the provinces of Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Bali and Lampung.

A flood information hotline is available on (021) 720-6447, 726-1956 and 720-4512.

People can also access www.bakornaspb.or.id or call the hotline on (021) 345-8400 or 345-8500 for information on disaster-hit areas.

Most rivers are located near the northern and southern coasts of Java, which also carry the two main land routes on the island.

"That and the fact that Java has experienced massive deforestation contributed to the recent floods and landslides such as in Cilacap (Central Java)," Soenarno said.

West Java has a total of 15 rivers.

Central Java is home to 45 rivers, most of which are prone to flooding or creating resulting landslides.

In East Java there are a total of 20 rivers, 14 of which flow by the cities of Ngawi, Tuban, Bojonegoro, Lamongan and Gresik, Sidoardjo, Pasuruan and Probolinggo.

The areas prone to flooding in East Java, however, are in Bojonegoro - Tuban - Lamongan and Gresik.

In Madura island there is Kali Sampang, but a ministry report says that it has not caused any floods this year.

BMG data reveals that nearly half of the country's 360 regencies are prone to natural disasters.

From January to November this year, 32 regencies were hit by floods and landslides, 15 of them in Java and the rest in Sumatra and Sulawesi.

All of the disaster-stricken regencies experienced heavy rain lasting more than two days, up from the normal precipitation level of 50 millimeters, Soenarno said.

"Therefore, all officials in the field must be on alert if there is an intense downpour, and warn people, particularly commuters," he added.

For commuters who plan to take road transportation, the latest data from the Ministry of Communication reveals that areas prone to landslides in which cliffs or hills may collapse are along the routes of Cileunyi - Sumedang (West Java), Majenang - Wangon in Purwokerto (Central Java), the border between West and Central Java and the road between Ajibarang and Wangon.

"We also have warned officers in flood-prone areas on the road between Patrol to Kandanghaur in Subang, West Java, Losari - Brebes, Pemalang - Pekalongan and roads linking Tegal, Majenang and Wangon (Central Java)," Director General for Land Transportation Susmono Soesilo said.

"Heavy equipment has also been prepared in case we have to clear the road from a mud flow," he added.(edt)