BMKG Issues A Commemoration Of 6 Meters High Waves In Indonesian Waters

High wave illustration (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued an early warning of high waves that could potentially occur in several water areas on January 24-25, 2024.

"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 Center for Maritime Meteorology, BMKG, Eko Prasetyo, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 24.

He said the wind pattern in northern Indonesia generally moves from the north-north of the sea with wind speeds ranging from 6-25 knots, while in southern Indonesia it generally moves from the west-northwest at a speed of 6-30 knots.

"The highest wind speed was observed in the southern part of the Makassar Strait, Sumbawa Sea, Flores Sea, Banda Sea, Sermata Islands waters. Babar, and Arafuru Sea," he said.

This condition, he said, caused an opportunity to increase waves as high as 1.25-2.5 meters in the northern part of the Malacca Strait, northern Sabang waters, western waters of Aceh, western waters of P. Simeulue-Kep.

Mentawai, waters of Bengkulu-Lampung, West Indian Ocean Sumatra, western and southern part of the Sunda Strait, southern waters of Banten-Central Java.

Then, the southern Bali-Lombok-Alas Strait, Sumba Strait, waters of P. Sawu-Kupang-P. Rotte, Savu Sea, South Indian Ocean Banten-Central Java, southern waters of Anambas-Kep. Natuna, Natuna Sea, Java Sea, northern waters west-East Java, central and southern Makassar Strait, western waters of South Sulawesi, waters of Sabalana-Kep. Selayar.

In addition, the Bali Sea, Sumbawa Sea, Flores Sea, northern Flores waters, central and eastern Sulawesi Sea, waters of Kep. Sitaro, Bitung waters, Maluku Sea, waters of Kep. Banggai-Kep. Sula, waters of P. Buru-P. Ambon, Seram Sea, Banda Sea, waters of Sep. Sermata-Kep. Tanimbar, waters of Kep. Kai-Kep. Aru, waters of Halmahera, Halmahera Sea, waters north of West Papua-Papua, western Arafuru Sea, North Pacific Ocean, West Papua-Papua.

Meanwhile, higher waves in the range of 2.5-4 meters are likely to occur in the northern waters of Kep. Anambas-Kep. Natuna, the southern waters of East Java-P. Sumba, the South Indian Ocean of Central Java-NTT, the waters of Sangihe-Kep. Talaud, the central and eastern Arafuru Sea, the North Pacific Ocean of Halmahera.

For waves in the very high range of 4.0-6.0 meters, he said, there is a chance to occur in the North Natuna Sea.

With the potential for high waves, Eko Prasetyo also appealed to the public, especially fishermen, to pay attention to the high risk of shipping safety, such as transportation modes, such as fishing boats (wind speeds of more than 15 knots and wave heights above 1.25 m), barges (wind speed of more than 16 knots and wave height above 1.5 m).

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