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West Java regencies declare windstorm emergency
Two West Java regencies have declared a state of emergency lasting 7-14 days after they were hit by several violent whirlwinds in the past week, including a disaster that could be the first tornado in Indonesia.
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People salvage personal belongings on Feb. 21, 2024 from houses destroyed by a 'puting beliung' (whirlwind) that struck earlier that day in Rancaekek, Bandung regency, West Java. The West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported that 97 houses and 17 factories were damaged and at least 31 people were injured during the disaster. (Antara/Raisan Al Farisi)
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he West Java regencies of Bandung and Sumedang have declared a state of emergency following a series of violent whirlwinds over the past week, including what was said to be the first ever tornado to occur in Indonesia that struck Rancaekek district, Bandung regency.
In anticipation of more whirlwinds, the Sumedang Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has erected several evacuation camps in Cimanggung district.
According to the West Java BPBD, the Sumedang administration has issued an emergency from Feb. 22 to 29, while the state of emergency in Bandung regency is in effect from Feb. 22 to March 6.
Although whirlwinds, locally known as puting beliung, are common in certain regions during the rainy season, the particularly violent whirlwind that struck Rancaekek on Wednesday has been widely perceived to be the first tornado to occur in Indonesia, due to its unprecedented severity.
It also caused a scale of destruction hitherto unseen from a whirlwind, damaging 31 factories and 503 homes, which has prompted at least one national researcher to categorize the Rancaekek whirlwind as the first tornado to occur in the country.
"That is why I am saying it falls under the F-0 category. Its speed reached 65 kilometers per hour," said climate researcher Erma Yulihastin from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), as quoted by the BBC.
Erma was referring to the lowest rating on the Fujita scale for tornado intensity, which applies to the “gale tornado” class with wind speeds of 40-72 miles per hour (64.4-115.9 kilometers per hour), according to the United States’ National Weather Service.
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