BMKG Warns of Rob Floods in NTB, Sea Level Rises to 2 Meters

Illustration: A plot of the residents' fish ponds submerged in coastal flooding or rob in Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province. ANTARA/HO-BNPB

MATARAM - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued an early warning of the potential for flash floods in the waters of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) with a maximum tide height of two meters.

Head of the NTB BMKG Meteorological Station Satria Topan Primadi said the flood warning was valid until December 25.

"The flood warning is valid until December 25," Satria said in a report in Mataram, Antara, Thursday, December 18.

He explained that the maximum tide in Lembar Port, West Lombok Regency, is estimated to occur at 20.00 to 01.00 WITA. Meanwhile, in Sape, Bima Regency, the maximum tide lasts around 20.00 to 03.00 WITA.

"We appeal to the public who are in coastal areas to be aware of the potential for flash floods," he said.

In addition to flash floods, BMKG also asked the public to be aware of the potential for high waves with a height of around 1.25 to 2.5 meters. The high waves are influenced by the presence of Tropical Cyclone 93S in the waters of the eastern Indian Ocean of Java Island.

In NTB, the number of villages and sub-districts that border directly on the sea reaches 292 villages and sub-districts or about 25 percent of the total 1,166 villages and sub-districts.

The region with the most coastal villages is in Bima Regency with 68 villages, followed by Sumbawa Regency with 63 villages, and East Lombok Regency with 44 villages.

Satria said that a number of areas that are potentially affected by flash floods include Ampenan, Lembar, Jerowaru, Labuan Lombok, Labuan Badas, Palibelo, Hu'u, Sape, to Asakota.

According to him, the potential for flash floods is influenced by the new moon phase which occurs on December 20. At this phase, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun so that the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun is parallel and triggers the occurrence of maximum sea water tides.