NTT Kupang Enters Days Without Rain, Residents Asked To Beware Of Drought Disasters

Illustration of drought in NTB (ANTARA)

KUPANG - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the Alak District, Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara Province experienced a very long category of Rainless Days (HTH) so it is necessary to be aware of the potential for drought in the area.

"The Alak area in Kupang City has experienced very long HTH or has not rained for 31-60 days so it has the opportunity to be hit by drought," said Head of the BMKG NTT Climatology Station Rahmattulloh Adji, quoted by ANTARA, Monday 12 June.

He conveyed this related to climate development in the NTT region on the First Basis of June 2023.

Adji explained, NTT generally experiences rainy days, but in the area around Lambanapu, East Sumba Regency experienced long HTH categories (21-30 days).

Meanwhile, the Alak area around the Tenau Meteorological Station has a very long category of HTH so that it has the opportunity to be hit by drought.

Adji appealed to residents in the area to always be ready to face the potential threat of drought which has various impacts, especially the reduced groundwater supply which has resulted in a clean water crisis.

In drought conditions like this, he said, residents need to urge the use of clean water so that existing supplies can meet the needs throughout the dry season.

He said, on the other hand, drought also increases the chances of forest and land fires that need to be prevented by avoiding actions that can cause hotspots in open areas.

"Avoid the act of cleaning up trash by burning in an open area, throwing cigarette butts in piles of grass or dry leaves that are easily struck by fire," he said.

He added that it is important to prevent this fire because in conditions of strong winds, the hotspots will spread quickly and be more difficult to extinguish.