TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued today an early warning of potential coastal flooding in the southern region of Java from the coast of Sukabumi to Yogyakarta. The warning takes effect starting December 30 until early next year.

The agency’s forecaster Rendi Krisnawan said the warning is issued in consideration of the new moon phase. At the same time, the moon's position is predicted to be at its closest to earth or perigee.

The conditions, he explained, cause the potential for a more significant increase in the sea level. “People living in coastal areas of Indonesia are advised to be alert,” he said in a written statement, Thursday.

A number of areas that have the potential for tidal flooding are the southern coastal areas of Sukabumi, Cianjur, Garut, Tasikmalaya, Pangandaran, Cilacap, Kebumen, Purworejo, and Yogyakarta.

According to Rendi, the potential tidal flooding could generally disrupt the daily activities in the port and coastal areas, loading and unloading activities at ports, salt ponds, or inland fisheries.

Read: Jakarta BPBD Braces for Floods, Preps 700 COVID-19 Isolation Booths

ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)