South Tangerang told to conduct routine check on billboards

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) told the South Tangerang municipal administration to conduct routine checks on advertisement billboards erected on the city’s thoroughfares after a giant billboard collapsed and injured several people in Ciputat district Sunday.    

“The administration has to conduct routine checks on billboard physical construction to anticipate possible accidents caused by natural disasters,” Yanuar, analyst with the agency at the BMKG Pondok Betun office in Pondok Aren said Monday.

He warned many billboards in South Tangerang might be prone to falling, especially as heavy downpours and strong winds might affect aging constructions.
 
According to the BMKG, wind speed at between 56 and 65 kilometers can sweep away giant billboards and huge trees.
 
“This warning is not intended for South Tangerang only, but all areas in Tangerang,” he said. “Based on our data, dozens of billboards and huge trees collapse during rainstorms.”

Eight people were injured when three billboards and roof tiles fell, caused by heavy rain with strong winds in Ciputat, South Tangerang, on Sunday.

The giant billboards, located in front of Makro Ciputat grocery store on Jl. Juanda, hit a Toyota Alphard car, a public minibus, a minivan, a sedan and two motorcycles.