Coastal Communities Asked To Beware Of 4 Meters High Waves Until March 17

A man observed high waves in Manado, North Sulawesi, Tuesday (14/2/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) asked coastal communities to be aware of the potential for high waves in several water areas on March 15-17, 2023.

"We ask people who live and work on the coast around areas where high waves are likely to occur to remain vigilant," said Head of the Maritime Meteorology Center, BMKG, Eko Prasetyo, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 15.

He said the wind pattern in northern Indonesia was dominantly moving from northeast-east with wind speeds ranging from 6-20 knots, while in southern Indonesia it was dominantly moving from northeast-east with wind speeds ranging from 6-20 knots.

"The highest wind speed was observed in the North Natuna Sea, the waters of Kep. Anambas-Kep. Natuna and the Natuna Sea," he explained.

He said this condition caused an opportunity to increase waves as high as 1.25-2.5 meters in the northern Malacca Strait, northern Sabang waters, western waters of Aceh-Mentawai Islands, West Indian Ocean Aceh-Nias, southern waters of Sumba Island, South Indian Ocean NTT, western Sumba Strait, Savu Sea, southern waters of Sabu-Kupang Island-Pulau Rote, North Natuna Sea, Natuna Sea, northern waters of the Anambas Islands-Natuna Islands, Talaud Islands waters, northern waters of the Halmahera Islands, North Pacific Ocean Halmahera.

For waves in the higher range of 2.5-4 meters, it is likely to occur in the western waters of the Mentawai Islands, Bengkulu-Enggano Island waters, the western waters of Lampung, West Indian Ocean Mentawai Islands-Lampung, the western part of the Sunda Strait, the southern waters of Java, the southern Indian Ocean Java, the southern waters of Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa Island, the southern part of the Bali-Lombok Strait, the South Indian Ocean Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa.

For this reason, Eko Prasetyo said, it is necessary to pay attention to the high risk to the safety of fishing boats with wind speeds of more than 15 knots and wave heights above 1.25 meters, barges (wind speeds of more than 16 knots and wave heights above 1.5 meters).

Then, ferries (wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 meters), large ships such as cargo ships/cruise ships (wind speeds of more than 27 knots and wave heights above 4 meters).