Halmahera Waters Are Hit By Waves As High As 4 Meters, BMKG Elevate Alert Shipping

The voyage of the Ternate-Jailolo Halmahera Barat fast boat is constrained by high waves leaning at the Port of Dufa-Dufa Ternate. (Between-Abdul Fatah)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reports that the waters of the North Pacific Ocean Halmahera are likely to be hit by waves of 2.5-4 meters high.

Head of the BMKG Maritime Meteorology Center, Eko Prasetyo, explained the details. He said the potential for high waves could potentially occur in several Indonesian waters for two days starting today, January 13.

"The high wave has the potential to occur on January 13-14, 2023," he said, Friday, January 13.

Eko explained that one of the triggers for high waves was the wind pattern in northern Indonesia, which predominantly moved from the Northwest-Northeast with wind speeds ranging from 8-20 knots.

Meanwhile, in the southern part of Indonesia, he continued, it is dominant to move from the Southwest-Northwest with wind speeds ranging from 6-15 knots.

"The potential for high waves in several water areas could pose a risk to shipping safety," said Eko.

He added that the highest wind speed was observed in the Sulawesi Sea, the waters of the Sangihe Islands-Talaud Islands, Maluku Sea, northern waters of Halmahera, northern Pacific Ocean Halmahera.

This condition, said Eko, led to an opportunity to increase waves as high as 1.25-2.5 meters in the western waters of Aceh, the western waters of P. Simeulue-Kep. Mentawai, Bengkulu waters, western Lampung waters, West Indian Ocean Sumatra.

In addition, the western and southern Sunda Strait, southern waters of Banten-East Java, southern waters of Bali-Sumbawa, southern waters of Sumba Island, western Sumba Strait, southern Sape Strait, southern Bali-Lombok-Alas Strait, Savu Sea, South Indian Ocean Banten-NTT.

Then, the central and eastern parts of the Sulawesi Sea, the northern waters of North Sulawesi, the waters of the Sangihe Islands, the waters of the Talaud Islands, the waters of the Sitaro Islands, the waters of Bitung, the northern Maluku Sea, the northern waters of Halmahera, the Halmahera Sea, the western waters of Biak, the North Pacific Ocean, West Papua-Papua.

He appealed to people who live and work on the coast around areas that have the opportunity for high waves to remain vigilant.