6 Meter High Wave Threatens Indonesian Waters Until August 10

Illustration of high waves in Jakarta waters (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has given an early warning of the potential for a high wave of 2.5-6 meters that ship shipping activities must be watched out for in a number of Indonesian waters on 7 - 10 August 2025.

BMKG's Director of Maritime Meteorology, Eko Prasetyo, said that atmospheric conditions and wind patterns formed in Indonesian waters triggered an increase in wave height that could endanger shipping safety.

Wind patterns in northern Indonesia are generally observed moving from southeast to southwest at a speed of 420 knots, while in the south it moves from southeast to southwest at a speed of 630 knots.

The highest wind speed was observed in the Malacca Strait, the Indian Ocean west of Aceh, the Indian Ocean south of Banten, and the Arafuru Sea, which triggered the potential for high waves in these waters.

BMKG predicts waves as high as 1.25' 2.5 meters are likely to occur in the southern and northern Makassar Strait, Banda Sea, Seram Sea, Savu Sea, Arafuru Sea (northernor, east, west, central), and the northern Pacific Ocean of Papua and Southwest Papua.

Meanwhile, higher waves, ranging from 2.5'4.0 meters, have the potential to occur in the Indian Ocean south of Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and along the west coast of Sumatra, including the Indian Ocean west of Aceh, Bengkulu, to Lampung.

For extreme waves as high as 46 meters, the BMKG warns that the western Indian Ocean region of the Nias Islands, west of Mentawai, and western waters of Aceh are the most risky areas in the forecast period.

BMKG appealed to the public and shipping activities to increase vigilance, especially fishermen boats, barges, ferries, and cargo or cruise ships that can be directly affected by wind speeds and extreme wave heights.