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La Nina may cause droughts in four provinces
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T
he National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has warned that this year’s La Niña weather phenomenon could cause droughts in four provinces.
Citing a forecast by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the disaster mitigation body predicted that four provinces in the central and the eastern part of the country could see less rainfall than normal. They are East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Maluku and South Sulawesi.
"We have sent an early warning to the provinces' disaster mitigation agencies [BPBD]," BNPB prevention division deputy head Lilik Kurniawan said on Monday, as reported by kompas.com.
Lilik said his agency had asked the BPBDs in the four provinces to take several courses of action, such as monitoring forest and land fire risks in their regions and preparing emergency water supplies.
"[We’ve asked them] to prepare water tanks and water pumps in districts at the highest risk of drought," he said.
The BNPB also asked regional administrations – particularly in the four provinces – to start water-saving campaigns and advise residents to collect rainwater and reuse household waste water.
The agency has asked local stakeholders to dig new wells and set up water distribution systems.
"We’ve also asked the BPBD to prepare equipment to extinguish forest fires," Lilik said.
"We have informed the public [about forest fire risks] and have set up warning signs to prevent land clearance using the slash-and-burn technique," he continued.
The agency is cooperating with the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police to prevent fires. The BNPB plans to activate command posts and call centers to mitigate forest and land fire risks, he added. (nal)
