BRIN: The Tornado Of Rancaekek Is Not A Result Of Climate Change, But Changes In Land Uses

Residents inspected the roof of the damaged family after the tornado that occurred in Rancaekek, Bandung Regency, West Java, Wednesday (21/2/2024). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Raisan Al Farisi/Spt/aa.

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) emphasized that the tornado phenomenon that occurred in Rancaekek District, Bandung Regency, West Java, was formed not because of climate change but local factors.

This statement was made by the Researcher, the Main Expert of the BRIN Center for Climate and Atmospheric Research, Eddy Hermawan, to straighten out the public's initial allegations regarding the trigger for the tornado, which is now circulating on various social media platforms.

"The phenomenon is only a local effect, not a global effect," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, February 23.

Eddy said the hypothesis of forming a tornado was due to changes in land use procedures in Rancaekek.

In the past, the area was a green teak plantation that made the environment relatively cool and clean. Now the area has turned into an industrial area and dense settlements.

According to him, the industry produces a lot of greenhouse gas emissions that confine the heat of the sun. This condition makes Rancaek a low-pressure area that smokes water vapor from the surrounding area and forms large cumulonimbus clouds.

The meeting of two water vapor masses from the east and west, was then strengthened from the south of the Indian Ocean. The three water vapor masses gathered in Rancaekek and created a tornado.

"Climate change is the frequency of extreme events increasing, for example in Rancaekek, where in the past year there were three disasters to six disasters. The nature of climate change is not local, but global with a very wide coverage area," said Eddy.

"If the tornado in Rancaekek is raised by climate change, then it is not only Rancaekek who experienced the disaster, but the North Coast of Java Island as well," he added.

On February 21, 2024, the extreme occurrence of strong winds accompanied by rain occurred in Rancaekek. Natural disasters that affected Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, occurred at around 16.00 WIB.

The Bandung Regency Government has set an emergency response status for tornadoes for 14 days starting from February 22 to March 6, 2024.