31 Days Of Not Rain, 4 Regions In NTT Prepare For Drought Disasters

NTT - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that as many as four areas in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) were on alert for drought.

Head of the NTT Climatology Station, BMKG Rahmattulloh Adji, said the four areas had not rained in the long term.

"Four drought prepared areas include East Alor, North Timur Alor, Mataru in Alor Regency, and the Kambera area in East Sumba Regency," he said in Kupang, NTT, Tuesday, May 23, as reported by Antara.

He conveyed that this was related to the early warning of meteorological drought in the NTT region.

Adji explained that the four areas were in very dry condition due to experiencing Rainless Days (HTH) of more than 31 days with a 70 percent chance.

Therefore, he said, local governments (Pemda) and local residents need to increase their preparedness for the potential threat of drought during the dry season.

The threat of drought, he said, could have various impacts, such as reduced groundwater availability, causing a shortage of clean water.

In addition, it has an impact on the agricultural sector with a rainy system that can experience crop failure or crop failure, as well as an increasing potential for forest and land fires (karhutla).

Adji appealed to residents to start saving on clean water and ensure the availability of water is sufficient for needs during the dry season.

Farmers, he said, also need to get around the potential for drought by choosing plants that are suitable or do not need a lot of water to be planted so that they are more likely to be harvested.

He added that the potential for forest and land fires should also be prevented by avoiding activities or actions that can cause hotspots in open areas where leaves or dried grass are easily struck by fire.