BPBD Asks West Manggarai Residents To Beware Of Hydrometeorological Disasters Until April 2024

The atmosphere of Labuan Bajo waters, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province. (ANTAHO-Gecio Viana)

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Manggarai Regency appealed to residents to increase preparedness to anticipate potential natural disasters in line with the changing seasons (transitions) in the area.

"In general, we have conveyed an appeal at the end of 2023 that until April 2024 we must guard against hydrometeorological disasters," said Head of BPBD West Manggarai Regency Isfridus Tobong when contacted in Labuan Bajo, Tuesday, April 2, confiscated by Antara.

He explained that the potential for hydrometeorological natural disasters such as landslides and floods due to heavy rains and strong winds that caused trees to fall had the potential to occur in the area. West Manggarai Regency Government, he continued, has mapped disaster-prone areas such as Kuwus, West Kuwus, and Welak Districts. "That's a very vulnerable area, every year of disaster subscriptions," he said.

Previously, Komodo Meteorological Station, West Manggarai appealed to all residents in the area to be careful and be aware of weather changes that can occur during the transition season. "The West Manggarai district area is currently in the transition from the rainy season to the dry season," said Head of Komodo Meteorological Station Maria Patricia Christin Seran when contacted in Labuan Bajo, Sunday, March 31.

Ia menjelaskan secara umum kondisi cuaca di daerah itu cerah berawan, berpotensi terjadi hujan ringan hingga lebat yang dapat disertai petir dan angin kencang berdurasi singkat pada siang hingga sore hari.Suhu udara, lanjut dia, berkisar dari 20-33 derajat Celsius dengan kelembaban udara berkisar antara 70 – 95 persen dan arah angin variabel atau berubah-ubah dari tenggara-barat daya berkecepatan rata-rata 10-30 km/jam."Karakteristik hujan pada masa pancaroba adalah hujan yang sebelumnya diawali atau disertai petir dan kadang dapat pula disertai angin kencang berdurasi singkat," jelasnya.Ia menambahkan biasanya juga pada masa pancaroba ini potensi angin puting beliung juga dapat terjadi, sehingga masyarakat diminta ketika langit sudah terlihat hitam sebaiknya tidak berada di tempat terbuka seperti lapangan, sawah, atau ladang, untuk terhindar dari sambaran petir."Hindari berteduh di bawah pohon yang terlalu rimbun ketika terjadi hujan disertai angin kencang," katanya.