Dear Mount Climbers, Please Postpone The Plan To Climb The Mountain, This February The Peak Of The Hazardous Rainy Season

The atmosphere of Mount Guntur in Garut Regency, West Java. (ANTARA/Feri Purnama)

GARUT - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Garut Regency, West Java, said that February 2024 is the peak of this year's rainy season. This is dangerous for the community and tourists who climb to the mountains because it is at risk of being struck by lightning or other potential natural dangers. "Based on BMKG's prediction that February is the peak of the rainy season, in order to postpone climbing first considering that extreme weather is very dangerous for climbers," said Head of Emergency and Logistics Division of the Garut Regency BPBD Daris Hilman when contacted via cell phone in Garut, Antara, Sunday, February 25. Over the past few days, high-intensity rain has often occurred evenly in Garut Regency and caused several natural disasters such as floods and landslides. In addition, he said, during the rainy season there are frequent lightning that can endanger the community if they are in an open space. Especially in mountains with a height of more than 2,000 meters above sea level. "The cold temperature and the hot temperature that can trigger make a lot of lightning," he said. He conveyed a warning of danger of climbing the mountain after the incident of a climber from Banten who was killed by lightning while taking shelter in the climbing tree of Mount Cikuray, Garut, Saturday (24/2). The existence of this incident, he said, is a warning for the community, especially climbers not to climb during the rainy season or during the hydrometeorological emergency alert status. He added that the potential threat of lightning in the mountains is higher with conditions that currently have a lot of open land, thus allowing the risk of being struck by lightning for people who are in that place. "The large number of high mountains that have begun to open allows for lightning strikes," said Daris. Previously, heavy rain accompanied by lightning occurred in the Garut area on Saturday (24/2) causing a climber to be struck by lightning on Mount Cikuray, Cilawu District, Garut. The victim climbs with five of his colleagues, when it rains on the way and then takes shelter under a tree, but suddenly lightning strikes one of the climbers Akbar (22), a male resident of Kaum Village, North Malingping, Lebak Regency, Banten. The victim was then evacuated by joint officers on Saturday night and taken to the hospital, before finally being handed over to the family.

Garut Regency is an area that has a mountain climbing tourist destination, including what is quite well known and crowded with climbers, namely Mount Cikuray in Cilawu District, Guntur Mountain in Tarogong Kaler District, and Gunung Papandayan in Cisurupan District.