Hoax, BMKG Affirms No Storm In NTT Region

JAKARTA - In East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has been milling about on social media and caused panic because it took data from applications outside the official applications of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). BMKG confirmed that the news was a hoax, there were no storms in the NTT region as information has been circulating on social media in the last few days.

"Information that there will be a storm in NTT is hoax news," said Head of Class II Meteorological Station El Tari Kupang Sti Nenotek in Kupang, NTT, quoted from ANTARA, Monday, March 11.

Sti also emphasized that the news was a hoax, because the BMKG only issued an early warning that extreme weather would occur until March 14, 2024, not a storm.

He explained that the extreme weather in question was moderate to heavy rain and rain accompanied by lightning and strong winds of short duration.

He appealed to residents who are on mountain slopes or riverbanks to be more aware of the potential threat of flooding and landslides when it rains heavily.

"Residents can immediately evacuate independently to a safer place if it rains for a long duration," he said.

He further emphasized that the public should not be consumed by fake news related to the current weather conditions.

"Official information about the weather is only issued by BMKG and can be accessed on official applications," said Sti.