After Cempaka, Here Comes Dahlia

Looks like the nature still not quite enough testing how strong people are. After Mount Agung and then Cempaka, now here comes… Dahlia.

Jakarta- Living in the disaster prone area makes Indonesia citizen facing daily threat of hydrometeorological disaster. Only for this month (November 2017) Indonesia encounter 3 natural events; Mount Agung eruption, Cempaka and now… since 7 pm, 29th November 2017, Indonesia once again is attacked by another tropical cyclone, named Dahlia.

Tropical Cyclone Dahlia is expected to cause moderate to heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorm. Wind speed caused by this latest tropical cyclone can reach more than 20 knots / 36 (km) per hour. Regions along the West coast of Sumatera in West Sumatra to Bengkulu, Lampung, , Jakarta and West are predicted as affected areas.

In addition, sea waves up to 6 meters estimated to occur in the waters in Enggano, waters of west Lampung, the Western part of Indian Ocean to Lampung, Southern part of Sunda Strait, South Waters of Banten and at the Southern part of Indian Ocean of Banten. Sea waves around 2.5 – 4 meters are predicted in the waters of the Nias Islands, Mentawai Islands and the Indian Ocean in the west of Aceh.

The Indonesia Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued warning to the public and advised people to remain calm but be aware of the potential water inundation, floods, or landslides, especially for people living in flood and landslide prone areas. BMKG also reminded the public of the potential of trees and billboards falling or collapsing due to heavy rain and strong winds. Residents are also advised not to seek shelter under the trees when experience rains accompanied by lightning. In addition, small-sized marine vessels are also reminded to be alert of high waves, especially traditional fishermen.

Previously, tropical cyclones "Cempaka" resulted in heavy rainfall in the region of Yogyakarta and Pacitan which resulted in flooding. Based on BMKG observation, rainfall in Yogyakarta on November 28, reached 286 mm/day, while in the Pacitan region rainfall was recorded as 383 mm/day, on Nov 27th.

According to Indonesia National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), the Cempaka tropical cyclone had caused floods, landslides, and tornadoes in Java. Yogyakarta, Wonogiri, Pacitan and Ponorogo are the most affected areas because they area are the closest to Cempaka. Based on the data that collected by BNPB, the disaster occurred in some districts such as Situbondo, Sidoarjo, Pacitan, Wonogiri, Ponorogo, Magetan, Serang, Cilacap, Sragen, Boyolali, Trenggalek, Purworejo, Magelang, Tulungagung, Semarang, Klaten, Malang, Wonosobo, Klungkung, Yogyakarta, Gunung Kidul, Kulon Progo, Sleman, Bantul, Kudus, and Sukoharjo. Casualties from floods and landslides in those areas caused 19 people died. There are 11 victims in Pacitan, three in Yogyakarta, one in Bantul, one in Gunung Kidul, two in Wonogiri, and one in Wonosobo. Of the 19 victims, 4 of them were flood victims and 15 landslide victims. Currently the floods still happen in some places such as in Pacitan, Magetan, Wonogiri, Klaten and others. Thousands of houses, farmland, and public facilities are submerged. Community activity was totally paralyzed in Wonogiri also in some areas in Yogyakarta and Pacitan. The South Highway connecting Wonogiri to Ponorogo was also paralyzed by a landslide.

Based on BMKG monitoring, Tropical Cyclone Cempaka in Southern Java has weakened and moving towards the Southwest, away from Indonesian waters.