President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has told travelers and transportation operators to bewary of extreme weather, as millions are expected to return to their hometownsfor the Idul Fitri holiday next month.
During a Cabinet meeting at the State Secretariat on Tuesday, Yudhoyono ordered theTransportation Ministry and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency(BMKG) to take measures to prevent transportation accidents caused by poorweather conditions.
“Extreme weather changes have already hit Indonesia,” he said.
“The weather is currently unfriendly; we need to remind people to be careful.”
Idul Fitri falls on Sept. 10 and 11 this year.
Millions of people from big cities across the country will return to their hometowns ina nationwide phenomenon called mudik, to celebrate Idul Fitri with theirrelatives.
The most popular transportation modes include airplane, ferry, bus, train, private carand motorcycle.
Yudhoyono said the BMKG needed to share weather forecasts with local governments and seaand land transportation operators.
“Don’t underestimate [the importance of weather forecasts],” he said.
The President mentioned the severe weather conditions currently plaguing severalother countries at the moment, including forest fires in Russia, landslides inChina and floods in Pakistan and India.
The BMKG posts daily weather forecasts and information about tidal activity on itswebsite.
The BMKG earlier forecast that this year’s dry season would arrive in Sumatra, Java,Bali, Sulawesi and Maluku sometime from May to June.
The forecast was then revised to July due to unexpected rises in sea temperaturesthat caused massive evaporation and heavy rains.
The agency said the La Nina weather phenomena would also cause extreme weather inIndonesia.
Last March,the BMKG issued an annual weather forecast stating that the dry season wouldfall in June at the latest.
However, rains continue to sweep several big cities in the country, including Jakarta.
Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said he had sent letters to governors, regents andmayors telling them to take action to prevent transportation accidents.
“All air, land and sea transportation operators must halt operations if the BMKGissues a serious weather warning,” he said.
Experts have said extreme weather conditions could increase in intensity due to climatechange caused by global warming.
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