BMKG Predicts Extreme Weather In North Maluku Today, KSOP Suspends All Shipping Activities

Illustration-(Photo: DOC ANTARA)

MALUKU - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Class I Meteorological Station Sultan Baabullah Ternate predicts that most of North Maluku (Malut) will be hit by extreme weather accompanied by heavy rain today.

BMKG Weather Forecaster Sultan Baabullah Ternate Zaky Alin Nuary said his party had issued an early warning alert for the potential for moderate to heavy rain accompanied by strong winds in most areas of North Maluku.

He mentioned a number of areas with extreme weather, such as West Halmahera Regency in Ibu, Loloda, Morotai Regency, Ternate City, Tidore Islands City, South Halmahera in Bacan, Obi and North Halmahera in Kao and its surroundings.

In addition, there is the potential for high waves of more than 2 meters due to high wind speeds in the waters of Ternate-Batangdua, Ternate-Jailolo-Loloda, Ternate-Kayoa-Makian, Bacan-Obi-Sanana-Bobong, and their surroundings.

In the afternoon until this afternoon, it will generally be cloudy with the potential for light-heavy rain in the Jailolo, Sidangoli, Sofifi, Ternate, North Oba, Morotai, Kayoa, Tobelo, Kao, Subaim, Gane, Obi, Taliabu, Bacan and surrounding areas and the potential for light rain -Dense in the Jailolo, Ibu, Siadngoli, Subaim, Patani, Taliabu, Bacan, Loloda, Obi, Kao, Tobelo, Ternate, Tidore and surrounding areas

Extreme weather in the form of strong winds accompanied by rain with heavy intensity resulted in the postponement of inter-island shipping activities in the North Maluku region.

The Class II Port Authority and Harbor Authority Office (KSOP) for the City of Ternate temporarily suspended all shipping activities in North Maluku, following bad weather conditions accompanied by high waves that could endanger shipping activities in this area.

Head of the Sailing Safety, Guard and Patrol Section of KSOP Ternate Miraza A. Polpoke said that his party had issued a notification for the temporary suspension of all shipping activities in North Maluku waters, due to conditions and sea waves reaching up to above 4 meters.

"Based on the BMKG report, the height of the sea waves in the waters of most of North Maluku reaches 2.5-4 meters and this is very dangerous for shipping activities from Ternate to various inter-island areas in the North Maluku region," he said when contacted in Ternate, Antara, Wednesday, February 15.

For this reason, KSOP urges all people using ships not to force themselves to travel, because the weather conditions in North Maluku are bad and dangerous for safety, especially users of small boats.

He said according to the weather forecast issued by the Class I Meteorological Station Sultan Baabullah Ternate dated 14 February 2023, high waves in North Maluku were up to 4 meters with wind speeds of 20 knots, so KSOP has not confirmed that ships for shipping activities will reopen.