TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) asserted that the raging wind in Rancaekek, Bandung, and its surroundings on Feb. 21 was not a tornado. The agency preferred to call the event a whirlwind, locally known as puting beliung.

Guswanto, the agency’s deputy for meteorology, said the term puting beliung is well understood by the public, while using the term tornado could have instilled excessive panic and fear in society.

“Those concerned should not use terms that can cause a stir in society. It is enough to use terms that are familiar and understandable,” he told Tempo on Thursday, February 22.

Guswanto explained that both whirlwinds and tornadoes may appear visually similar, but they differ in terms of speed and impact. Tornadoes, which are known to occur only in high latitudes, are more perilous than whirlwinds.

The West Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) confirmed that the raging winds affected five districts, namely Jatinangor and Cimanggung in Sumedang Regency and Cileunyi, Rancaekek, and Cicalengka in Bandung Regency.

The impact was severe, with at least 13 factories and 10 houses damaged in Sumedang Regency, while 18 factory and shop buildings and 151 residential units were heavily damaged in Bandung Regency. Additionally, 223 houses were slightly damaged, and 119 houses were moderately damaged.

Erma Yulihastin, an expert in climatology and climate change at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), suggested that the fierce winds in Rancaekek approached the minimum threshold for a tornado, based on the magnitude of the impact and the estimated wind speed.

ALIF ILHAM FAJRIADI

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