The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has urged all parties to remain alert to the potential for wet hydrometeorological disasters due to rainfall of high intensity next year.
The agency has forecast higher-than-normal annual rainfall in some parts of Indonesia in 2023.
“Annual rainfall in 2023 is predicted to exceed the average or exceed the normal limit in some parts of Indonesia,” the head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati, said in a written statement received here on Tuesday.
Rainfall exceeding the normal limit can trigger wet hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, flash floods, and landslides, she noted.
Therefore, ministries/agencies, local governments, communities, and all parties must immediately take mitigation and anticipatory steps to deal with potential hydrometeorological disasters, Karnawati added.
She also underlined the importance of optimizing the function of water resource infrastructure in urban areas and flood-prone areas, improving drainage, and checking the function of water reservoirs, such as retention ponds, to prevent flooding.
Based on the Climate Outlook 2023 published by the BMKG, areas that are expected to experience significantly high annual rainfall of more than 2,500 millimeters per year, include Sumatra, especially the area around Bukit Barisan mountains; the Bangka Belitung Islands; and South Sumatra.
Parts of Banten, West Java, Central Java, large parts of Kalimantan, parts of West Sulawesi, large parts of South Sulawesi, and large parts of Papua are also expected to experience annual rainfall of more than 2,500 millimeters.
In addition, several areas are expected to experience above-normal annual rainfall, namely a small part of southern Jambi, a small part of northern West Java, a small part of eastern East Java, a small part of southern East Kalimantan, a small part of northern Bali, part of West Nusa Tenggara, and a small part of eastern Central Sulawesi.
Karnawati urged residents living near riverbanks to be aware of the potential for flooding. Residents living in hilly areas must also be aware of the potential for landslides during high rainfall.
“People must know the signs of impending landslides or floods and flash floods,” she emphasized.
She further stated that some parts of Indonesia are expected d to experience below-normal annual rainfall in 2023, which could cause dry hydrometeorological disasters such as drought and forest and land fires.
Annual rainfall in a small part of eastern West Papua and a small part of northern Papua is also forecast to be lower than normal in 2023.
“All parties must be aware of the potential for forest and land fires in 2023, which will be higher than in 2020, 2021, and 2022, where the dry season is wet,” she remarked.
According to the BMKG, there is also a risk of drought and forest and land fires in several areas that are expected to experience a normal dry season in 2023.
The areas at risk of experiencing drought and forest and land fires include Riau; South Sumatra; Bangka Belitung; parts of western, central, and southern Kalimantan; parts of South Sulawesi; northern West Java; southern Central Java; eastern East Java; North Bali; parts of West Nusa Tenggara; and East Nusa Tenggara.
Source: Antara News