Anticipating The La Nina Phenomenon, BMKG Coordinates With The Governor Of South Sulawesi

Governor of South Sulawesi (Sulsel) Nurdin Abdullah meets BMKG Sulsel (DOK. Pemprov Sulsel)

MAKASSAR - South Sulawesi (Sulsel) Governor Nurdin Abdullah immediately coordinated with regional leaders in South Sulawesi to anticipate the impact of the La Nina phenomenon.

This was conveyed by Nurdin Abdullah after receiving a report from the South Sulawesi Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). According to Prof. NA, this BMKG report — Nurdin Abdullah's nickname — must be responded well by taking anticipatory steps.

"We respond well to this and will coordinate with regional leaders in South Sulawesi," said Prof. NA in a statement from the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, Sunday, October 18.

Prof. NA emphasized that he would immediately socialize and contact all regents and mayors to discuss steps to anticipate the La Nina phenomenon.

"We will socialize this and contact all regents and mayors. We will discuss it in depth," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of BBMKG Region IV Makassar, Darmawan, said that the rainfall forecast for the rainy season in South Sulawesi will occur in November and peak in January 2021.

"The rainy season for 2020-2021 in South Sulawesi, the west coast, will be included in November. Early November has started to enter the rainy season. The peak is estimated to be in January, "said Darmawan.

He explained that the La Nina phenomenon is expected to continue to develop to reach moderate intensity by the end of 2020 and to start thoroughly in January-February 2021.

"This is now La Nina, that is, the increase in high rainfall is increasing, from a weak index to moderate, an increase in monthly rainfall is between 20 and 40 percent above normal," he explained.

Darmawan said that South Sulawesi had not yet fully entered the rainy season, in which the island of Java had begun to enter, so the impact needed to be anticipated.

"Along with the increase in rainfall, La Nina has the potential to increase the risk of flooding and submerge agricultural land. So we suggest that waterways in agricultural land should be widened and ensure that water flow is not obstructed," he said.

Darmawan said that the river basin (DAS) must be well anticipated so that flash floods do not occur.

"The anticipation of watersheds that we predict will lead to flash floods must be carried out immediately so that events in Bantaeng and Luwu Raya will not happen again," he concluded.