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BMKG predicts more floods, less drought in 2020
Following severe flooding in the first week of the year, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) expects floods and landslides to continue in the coming months
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ollowing severe flooding in the first week of the year, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) expects floods and landslides to continue in the coming months.
BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati said a climate anomaly that caused an extreme long dry season last year would not recur in 2020 but extreme rainfall was expected to peak in February to March, bringing more floods, landslides and hurricanes.
“While preparing for the peak of the rainy season, the function of reservoirs should be maximized to maintain water supply during the dry season,” Dwikorita said.
The agency recorded that the long drought last year, the worst since 2015, was caused by a climate anomaly, resulting in a shortage of water supplies and vast forest fires.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spent Rp 3.7 trillion (US$ 265.6 million) on mitigation efforts against forest fires that razed 942,485 hectares nationwide. The allocated funds accounted for half of the agency’s Rp 6.7 trillion disaster mitigation fund.
While not focusing on the dry season this year, the BMKG said it had prepared mitigation plans against forest fires through Map of Days without Rain. “After 10 days without rain, the Himawari satellite will inform about potential hot spots. Hourly information will then be posted to our website,” Dwikorita said.
The BNPB recorded that hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, droughts, hurricanes and landslides accounted for nearly all disasters last year.
Approximately 3,786 disasters occurred in 2019. Central Java experiencing the most with 914 occurrences of natural disasters, followed by West Java with 691.
“The number of disasters in 2019 was an increase of 12 percent from the previous year. However, casualties had significantly decreased from last year,” said BNPB spokesperson Agus Wibowo, reminding that most casualties in 2018 were caused by deadly earthquakes and tsunamis.
The Public Works and Housing Ministry has prepared Rp 4.5 trillion for flood prevention through river restoration projects, strengthening river embankment and adding more drainage systems, according to Gani Ghazaly Akman, a ministry official. He also said the ministry would continue to build shelters for tsunami evacuations.
BNPB head Lt. Gen. Doni Monardo, meanwhile, said to prevent forest fires, peatland would be kept wet.
The BNPB also launched Disaster-Resilient Family (Katana) in Aceh province on Dec. 12. The program aims to educate families about disaster mitigation. The program is a collaboration between the central government, religious leaders, culture practitioners, academics and regional governments.
“It is time to change society’s paradigm through alternative economic initiatives. For example, residents can cultivate snakehead murrel fish, which is in high demand, instead of burning land and forest for cultivation,” Doni said.
The BMKG also warned of the possibility of earthquakes and tsunamis. The agency has been working to improve its early warning system.
The early warning system is able to record sea waves as a result of strong earthquakes to measure the potential for tsunamis.
“The system records primary waves and within 60 seconds before the second wave arrives, the system will send a warning to people. Thus, people will have at least 15 to 30 seconds to evacuate the area before the second wave hits,” Dwikorita said.
The early warning system will be operated in high-risk disaster locations this year. (trn)
