M

ost areas across Indonesia are expected to be hit by floods or landslides as a result of a prolonged rainy season that will continue until March, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned.

BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati said a forecast of heavy rainfall was expected from Feb. 6 to 12 in the southern part of Java, West and South Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

In addition to heavy rainfall, strong winds at a speed of around 20 knots were expected in the South China Sea, the Java Sea and the Banda Sea, creating waves two to six meters high, she added.

“Extreme weather, including heavy rain [...], is also expected in the next few days in the western part of Sulawesi and East Java,” said Dwikorita.

A map of flood-prone areas issued by the BMKG shows most areas in Java dominated by the color red.

“That means many areas are prone to flooding in February,” said BMKG spokesperson Harry Tirto.

Seven regencies and cities in Central Java have declared a disaster emergency situation following a string of floods and landslides that hit the areas.

Based on Central Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) data, four regencies, namely Boyolali, Karanganyar, Sragen and Wonogiri, are prone to landslides. Meanwhile, three cities, namely Klaten, Sukoharjo and Surakarta, are prone to flooding.

“Boyolali, Karanganyar, Sragen and Wonogiri have a lot of steep, sloping mountainsides and hilly and mountainous areas. The land is very unstable in those areas. So we categorize them as prone to landslides,” BPBD Central Java head Sarwa Pramana said.

Separately, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said in Surakarta that a preparation process had been fully carried out in anticipation of the natural disasters.

“I have asked all local leaders, starting from regents and mayors to heads of neighborhood units, to stay alert. The rain intensity has continued to increase since the beginning of January and it is predicted that such a condition will last until March,” he said.

The head of BMKG Malang’s Karangploso Climatology Station, Joko Budi Utomo, said high intensity rain, lightning and strong winds would occur throughout February.

“All residents must stay alert during this rainy season because there is a high potential for flooding and landslides,” he said in Malang, East Java, on Tuesday.

BPBD Malang head Hartono said the extreme weather started in the beginning of January. Twenty-eight landslides, eight whirlwinds and four floods were recorded from January to February, but no fatalities were reported, he said.

Heavy rainfall has also reportedly occurred in areas outside Java. The BMKG’s Balikpapan branch warned on Tuesday that until next week, heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds and lightning, could occur at anytime in Tanjung Redeb, Tanah Grogot and Sendawar, cities in East Kalimantan.

“We have asked our residents to work together to clean up drainage [systems] to reduce the potential for flooding,” said Balikpapan Mayor Rizal Effendi.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s Geology Agency has called on all local administrations and residents across Indonesia to stay alert as high intensity rain could trigger landslides.

As of Feb. 2, the Geology Agency recorded 170 incidents involving unstable land and resulting in 15 deaths.

“We have distributed a map of Indonesia’s landslide-prone areas, layered with weather forecasts from the BMKG, to all governors. The map highlights areas in the country susceptible to disasters — from the highest to the lowest level,” Geology Agency head Rudy Suhendar said on Tuesday.

Rudy said landslides typically occurred in areas with unstable land.

In 2017, the Geology Agency recorded 1,177 incidents involving unstable land, with 210 deaths. The figure increased fourfold from the previous year, which saw 229 incidents.

“Since 2014, landslides have become the deadliest disaster in our nation. In 2017, it killed 156 people,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said recently, adding that, in 2018, landslides would likely result in more casualties.

Aman Rochman from Malang, Arya Dipa from Bandung, Ganug Nugroho Adi from Surakarta and N. Adri from Balikpapan contributed to this story.