BMKG Warning: February 22-23 There Is A Potential For Flash Floods Due To Heavy Rains

Illustration. (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - The forecast for the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reminded people in five provinces to be on alert because of the potential for floods and flashes due to heavy rains in the period 22-23 February 2021.

Reporting from Antara, according to forecast data released by BMKG in Jakarta, Sunday, February 21, the provinces of Central Java, East Java, Bali, Central Sulawesi and South Sulawesi are included in the flood and flash alert category due to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, there are 18 other provinces that are in the category of being alert to the impact of heavy rains over the next two days, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Jambi and Bengkulu for the Sumatra region.

In the Java and Nusa Tenggara regions that are included in the alert category are the provinces of West Java, DI Yogyakarta and West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara.

Several districts / cities that are predicted to be on alert for flooding due to heavy rains in Central Java are Kebumen, Banjarnegara, Purbalingga, Pekalongan, Pemalang, Wonosobo, Temanggung, Kendal, Batang, Magelang, Purwokerto.

Meanwhile in East Java there are Malang, Pasuruan, Probolinggo. Sidoarjo, Kota Pasuruan, Mojokerto, Kota Batu, Banyuwangi, Jember, Bondowoso, and Situbondo have standby status.

Districts / cities that are included in the alert category in South Sulawesi are North Luwu, East Luwu, Palopo City, North Toraja, Tana Toraja, Barru, Soppeng, Sidenreng, Parepare City, Wajo, Jeneponto, Gowa, Maros, Pangkajene and Islands, Bone, Takalar and Makassar City.

BMKG also warned several provinces that were included in the category of being aware of the impact of heavy rains, namely North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.

The alert category also applies to the regions of West Sulawesi, Maluku, West Papua and Papua.

Previously, BMKG appealed to the public to remain vigilant about the possibility of flooding which could still occur in March and April 2021. With the potential for flooding in the medium category, it must be watched out for in March even though the potential flood area decreases in April.

The 2020-2021 rainy season in Indonesia itself is influenced by the global climate phenomenon La Nina which can increase rainfall by up to 40 percent with La Nina expected to continue at least until May 2021.