Rainy Season; BNPB Issues Disaster Alert Status for 8 Regions

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) noted that at least eight regions in Indonesia are on alert status as they potentially face hydrometeorological disasters, such as flooding, during this rainy season.

"This is based on the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) weather forecast map on the impact of heavy rain," said BNPB’s spokesman Agus Wibowo on Thursday, December 26.

The following is the list of regions that are potential to face flooding:

1. Aceh 
2. North Sumatra and West Sumatra 
3. Jambi and Bengkulu
4. South Sumatra and Lampung 
5. Jakarta and West Java 
6. Central Java and East Java 
7. North Kalimantan 
8. West Sulawesi and South Sulawesi

Possible hydrometeorological disasters include stormy rain with strong winds and rising sea waves, Agus added.

This disaster alert status is valid from 26-27 December at 07:00 a.m. However, natural disasters are prone to occur during this year’s rainy season until early 2020.

"The rainy season will last until April 2020, so it still poses threats of hydrometeorological disasters," Agus said.

Public willing to obtain updated weather information can access the BMKG’s 24-hour services, viz. call center 021-6546318, Twitter @infobmkg, and BMKG app for iOS and Android, or directly contact the nearest agency office.

HALIDA BUNGA