Coastal Communities Are Advised To Be High Wave Alert

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JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to people who are active in coastal areas to be aware of the potential for high waves in several Indonesian waters on October 1-2, 2023.

"We ask people who live and work on the coast around areas where high waves are likely to occur to remain vigilant," said Head of the Maritime Meteorology Center, BMKG, Eko Prasetyo in Jakarta, Sunday.

He said the wind pattern in northern Indonesia generally moves from the southeast-southwest with wind speeds ranging from 8-20 knots, while in southern Indonesia it generally moves from east-southeast at a speed of 8-25 knots.

"The highest wind speed was observed in the North Natuna Sea and Merauke waters," he explained.

This condition, said Eko Prasetyo, caused an opportunity to increase waves as high as 1.25-2.5 meters in the waters north of Sabang, the western waters of Aceh, the southern part of the Sape Strait, the western Sumba Strait, the Savu Sea, the waters of P. Rote-Kupang, the South Indian Ocean Kupang, the North Natuna Sea.

Then, the southern part of the Makassar Strait, the eastern Flores Sea, the waters of Sangihe-Kep. Talaud, the North Pacific Ocean Halmahera, the northern part of the Maluku Sea, the northern waters of Halmahera, the waters of the Kep. Sermata-Kep. Tanimbar, the waters of Kep. Kei-Kep. Aru and the Arafuru Sea.

For higher waves in the range of 2.5-4 meters, it is likely to occur in the West Indian Ocean Kep. Simeulue-Lampung, western waters of Simeulue-Lampung, waters of P. Enggano-Bengkulu, the western and southern Sunda Strait, southern waters of Banten-P. Sumbawa, southern Bali-Lombok-Alas Strait, South Indian Ocean Banten-P. Sumba.

With the potential for high waves, Eko Prasetyo also appealed to the public, especially fishermen, to pay attention to high risks to shipping safety, such as transportation modes such as fishing boats (wind speeds of more than 15 knots and wave heights above 1.25 m), barges (wind speed of more than 16 knots and wave height above 1.5 m).

Then, ferries (wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 m). And large ships such as cargo ships/cruise ships (wind speeds of more than 27 knots and wave heights above four meters).