Weather conditions dampen holiday season for travelers
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)