BMKG Warns of High Waves in Indonesian Waters, Including NTB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued an early warning about potential high waves in Indonesian waters on August 8-9, 2024. 

BMKG forecaster Fara Diva said the wind pattern in northern Indonesia generally moves from southeast to southwest with a speed of 6 to 20 knots. In southern Indonesia, the wind moves from east to southeast at 8 to 25 knots.

"The highest wind speed was observed in the southern Makassar Strait, the waters of Kota Baru, the waters of Buru Island, the waters of southern Banten, the West Indian Ocean of Bengkulu - Lampung," said Fara in a written statement, Thursday, August 8, 2024.

The high wind speed will potentially cause high waves of 1.25 - 2.5 meters in the waters north of Sabang Island, the waters west of Aceh - Nias, the Indian Ocean west of Aceh - Nias Island, the Indian Ocean south of NTT, southern Bali Strait - Lombok - Alas - Sape, the Sawu Sea, the western Sumba Strait, the Karimata Strait, the Sumbawa Sea, the waters of the eastern Selayar Islands, and the Java Sea.

Similar waves will also potentially hit the southern Makassar Strait, the eastern Flores Sea, the waters of the Wakatobi Islands, the waters of Manui Kendari, the waters of Buru Island - Seram Island, the Banda Sea, the waters of the Kai Islands - Aru Islands, the waters of the Sermata Islands - Tanimbar Islands, the Arafuru Sea.

Meanwhile, 2.5 to 4-meter-high waves are likely to occur in the western waters of the Mentawai Islands - Lampung, the West Indian Ocean of the Mentawai Islands - Lampung, the western and southern part of Sunda Strait, the southern waters of Banten - NTB, the southern Indian Ocean of Banten - NTB.

"The high waves potential could pose a risk to seafaring safety," she said.

BMKG urges citizens to be vigilant of wind speeds of over 15 knots and over 1.25-meter-high waves, especially fishers who regularly sail on boats. 

BMKG also implores barge vessels to avoid wind speeds of more than 16 knots and over 1.5 meters high waves and ferries at over 21 knots wind speeds and 2.5-meter-high waves.

For large ships such as cargo ships or cruise ships, it is necessary to avoid wind speeds over 27 knots and wave heights above 4 meters. "We urge coastal communities to remain vigilant of the high waves,” said Fara.

IRSYAN HASYIM

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