BMKG Attributes 'Abnormal' Cyclone Seroja to Global Warming

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, on Tuesday said that Cyclone Seroja, that had devastated East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), is the tenth cyclone detected by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Jakarta.

She deemed Seroja as the only one that had massive effects on the regions it passed compared to previous detected cyclones as it sparked flash floods, landslides, and storms across 11 regencies and cities in NTT.

“Cyclone Seroja is the first with pretty devastating effects as it breached land areas, this is what is abnormal,” said Dwikorita in online press conference on Tuesday, April 6.

BMKG suspected the great disturbance caused by the cyclone was due to the high temperatures of the ocean surface which Dwikorita accredited to the effects of global warming. The sea surface temperature in the waters of NTT was recorded at 30 degrees celsius instead of the normal average of 26 degrees. 

“This is what we must collectively understand that global warming must surely be mitigated. If it isn’t mitigated, this would be an annual occurrence and become a normal cycle. This is what we must anticipate together,” said the BMKG chief. 

The wind speeds of Cyclone Seroja continues to build from 85 km/h to 110 km/h and is expected to reach higher average speeds of 130 km/h. However, it is important to note that the cyclone is currently traveling away from NTT waters carrying away its strong winds. 

Read: BMKG Explains 4 Impacts of Tropical Cyclone Seroja in Indonesia

DEWI NURITA