Supermoon: Muara Baru People Unconcerned about Tidal Floods
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21 January 2019 18:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - People living in Muara Baru, North Jakarta, are not worried about possible high tides during tonight's the Supermoon, January 21.
Silvi Irmawati (31), a local, said she was aware that the phenomenon could potentially increase the seawater level before her house.
“I think high tides that may happen tonight will not reach the housing complex,” said Silvi at her house in Muara Baru, Penjaringan district, North Jakarta.
Silvi believed the 1.5-meter-high levee in the area would keep the seawater from entering houses.
Before the levee was constructed, 0.1-1-meter-tall tidal floods used to hit the area during the full moon and it would only subside after three hours.
Read: Supermoon - Megatsunami Myth Debunked by Two Astronomers
She added the people in Muara Baru were more afraid of a broken levee than high tides. “Because many parts are cracked, through which the seawater could enter.”
Based on Tempo’s observation, people’s activities around the Muara Baru levee proceeded as usual. No one was seen moving their furniture in case of possible high tides.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) previously issued an early warning about the potential increase in sea waves on January 19 until 22, 2019, in light of the Supermoon phenomenon—when the full moon is closest to the earth, which is 357,492 kilometers.
The BMKG appealed to the public to remain alert against the impact of the Supermoon, especially those living in the northern coast of Jakarta to East Java, as well as the southern coast such as Cilacap, Tanjung Benoa Bali, West Kalimantan and Makassar.
IMAM HAMDI