Warning From BMKG: High Waves Still Potentially Occur In The South Seas Of West Java, Central Java, To Yogyakarta

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reminded marine service users to be alert to high waves that still have the potential to occur in the southern seas of West Java, Central Java, to the Special Region of Yogyakarta.

"Therefore, we have again issued an early warning of high waves in the southern waters of West Java-DIY and the southern Indian Ocean of West Java-DIY which is valid until Sunday 19 September and will be updated if there are further developments," said BMKG weather analyst at the Tunggul Meteorological Station. Wulung Cilacap Rendi Krisnawan in Cilacap, Central Java, quoted from Antara, Saturday 18 September.

In this case, he said, the wave heights in both the southern waters of West Java-DIY and the southern Indian Ocean of West Java-DIY have the potential to reach the range of 4-6 meters and fall into the very high category.

According to him, the increase in wave height was influenced by the presence of a low pressure system of 1,008 hPa in the South China Sea east of the Philippines.

In addition, the wind in the southern part of Indonesia is dominantly moving from east-south at a speed of 5-25 knots.

"Wind gusts that tend to be in the same direction with high speeds have an impact on increasing wave heights in the sea. Therefore, we urge marine service users to remain alert to the possibility of high waves in the southern sea of West Java-DIY," he explained.

Asked about the overturning of the Pengayoman IV ship in the northern waters of Nusakambangan Island on Friday, September 17, Rendi said that based on data from the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) installed at the Cilacap Ocean Fishing Port (PPSC), the wind speed at the time of the incident was around 10-15 knots or medium category with gusts from the southeast.

He estimates that the wind speed between PPSC and Tanjung Intan Port, Cilacap, when the Pengayoman IV ship capsizes is not much different.

"In terms of wave height, we do not have real time measuring instruments, but at the time of the incident it was estimated that it was around 1.25-2.5 meters and was in the medium category. Meanwhile, for currents from southwest to northwest at a speed of 5-10 centimeters per second , while the weather conditions are cloudy," he said.

Regarding the maximum wind speed in Cilacap throughout Friday (9/17), he said based on AWS data at PPSC it was recorded at 15 knots, the Tunggul Wulung Meteorological Station in Cilacap 19 knots, and the Meteorological Observation Post at Tunggul Wulung Cilacap Airport reaching 24 knots.

As reported, the Pengyoman IV ship sank in the waters north of Nusakambangan Island on its way from Wijayapura Pier, Cilacap, to Sodong Pier, Nusakambangan Island, after capsized due to strong winds on Friday (17/9) morning.

The ship which departed from Wijayapura Pier at 08.50 WIB was carrying seven passengers, including crew members, a motorbike, and two trucks loaded with sand.

At around 09.00 WIB, the ship was blown away by the wind and capsized. As a result of the incident, two passengers died and five others survived.

The five survivors consisted of Subagyo Antoro who was the captain, Diki and Melga as crew members, Suheris (truck driver), and Sulianto (passenger).

While the two victims who died consisted of Wahyu who was a prison officer and Kardim as a truck driver.