Rofiq Isa Mansur, a weather analyst at the BMG office at Surabaya's Juanda International Airport, said airlines and shipping companies in the regions had been cautioned about bad weather in Kalimantan and Sulawesi islands and parts of East Java, Bali and West Nusa Tenggara.

He also blamed poor weather conditions for the temporary closure of the airport between 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

"All ships sailing into Kalimantan and Sulawesi waters should stay alert for strong winds and high waves because wind speeds will be between 120 and 200 kilometers per hour," he said.

In East Java and the Java Sea, continuous rain coupled with strong winds are expected, fed by Typhoon Dolphin churning over Philippine waters, eventually sweeping into the waters off Kalimantan, Sulawesi and East Java.

Rofiq added downpours in several provinces would be of low or moderate intensity, with rainfall of up to a centimeter per hour. Heavier rains are expected to peak in mid-January.

"Despite low and moderate rain intensity, big cities such as Surabaya, Malang and Kediri are prone to floods and landslides because of their deforested cityscapes and poor drainage and irrigation systems," he said

"Surabaya, Malang, Trenggalek and Ponorogo will also be prone to high winds that could damage homes in these areas."

Antoyo Setyapratikto, a BMG analyst in Karangploso, Malang, warned local residents of the risk of floods and landslides in the mountainous regency over the next few weeks, compounded by a typhoon and global warming.

"This condition will reach its peak in January with heavy rainfall and high winds," he said.

Typhoon Sifon, forming in the sea between Java Island and Australia, will add to the high rainfall intensity and wind speed in Java and the southeastern part of the archipelago, Antoyo added.

Malang Mayor Peni Suparto and other officials are currently touring areas prone to landslides and floods, and calling on residents to remain alert ahead of disasters this rainy season.

The Navy's Eastern Fleet has set up search and rescue teams and prepared dozens of inflatable boats in critical areas in the province, in anticipation of floods.

"We have an SAR team consisting of marines and evacuation equipment," said fleet spokesman Lt. Col. Tony Syaiful.

"We needed 60 inflatable boats and marine personnel to evacuate flood victims in Bojonegoro last December."

Popular

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Analysis: Indonesia denies normalization with Israel to enter OECD

Citroen to produce electric cars in Indonesia