BMKG Asks Coastal Communities To Be Prepared For Potential Rob Floods May 19

Illustration of tidal flooding (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to coastal communities to be aware of the potential for coastal flooding or tidal flooding following the phenomenon of the new moon phase on May 19, 2023.

"The public is advised to always be vigilant and alert to anticipate the impact of the maximum tide of sea water," said Head of the BMKG Maritime Meteorology Center Eko Prasetyo, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 16.

He stated that based on water level data monitoring and tidal predictions, tidal flooding has the potential to occur in several coastal areas of Indonesia, including the coast of Aceh, the coast of North Sumatra, the coast of West Sumatra, Riau Islands, the coast of Banten, the north coast of DKI Jakarta, the coast of West Java, and the coast of East Java.

Then the NTB and NTT coasts, the coast of West Kalimantan, the coast of Maluku, the coast of North Maluku, the coast of Papua, and the coast of South Papua.

"The potential for tidal flooding varies in days and hours in each region, which generally has an impact on community activities around ports and coasts, such as loading and unloading activities at ports, activities in coastal settlements, as well as salt pond activities, and land fisheries," he said.

He detailed the potential for tidal flooding on the coast of Aceh (pesisir Sabang, Meulaboh) occurred on May 19-22, 2023, the coast of North Sumatra (pesisir Belawan and its surroundings) on May 16-22, the coast of West Sumatra on May 19, the coast of Karimun (Riau Islands/Kepri) May 18-25, the coast of Batu Ampar (Kepri) May 18-23, the coast of Tanjung Uban (Kepri) May 18-24, the north coast of Banten 18-27 May, the west-south coast of Banten 17-23 May, the northern coast of DKI Jakartan19-24 May, and the north coast of West Java 16-19 May.

Then, the north coast of Central Java (City of Semarang, Demak Regency, Pekalongan Regency, Kendal Regency, Batang Regency, Pati Regency, Jepara Regency, Pesisir Rembang, Tegal City, Brebes Regency, Pemalang Regency) 16-19 May, East Java coast 18-20 May, West West Lombok coast (West Lombok Regency and Bima coast) 19-25 May, NTT coast (Regency= Kupang and Waingapu) 19-21 May, West Kalimantan coast 20-27 May, Maluku coast (Ambon Bay, Saumlaki, Banda, southern coast of Seram Island, Kai Islands, Dobo Islands, eastern Seram Regency) 18-25 May, and North Maluku coast (Taliabu Island, Sula Islands, Mangole, west of Obi, western Loloda, west of Morotai) 18-20 May.

Similar conditions also have the potential to occur on the north coast of Jayapura (Demta, Depapre, Ravenirara and Muara Tami) and the northern coast of Sawai (Mamberamo Regency) May 20-22, the coast of South Papua (Pesisir Merauke) May 21-25, and the coast of the Muli Strait May 18-25, 2023.