Indonesia: High waves cause Rp 2 billion in losses in Yogyakarta

Sri Wahyuni The Jakarta Post 24 Jul 18;

High waves occurring this month in Yogyakarta have so far caused over Rp 2 billion (US$137,807) in financial losses in the province, a team of experts have said.

The team, consisting of experts from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), revealed that the high waves had destroyed a total of 24 gazebos, five fishing ships, four kiosks, four stalls and 20 nets on the beaches located along the province’s southern coast.

“The real loss could be higher considering our limited observation,” said team member Muh Aris Marfai, who is also the dean of UGM’s Department of Geography, on Tuesday.

BMKG forecaster Sigit Hadi Prakoso of BMKG’s Yogyakarta office said the phenomenon, which started on July 17, reached its peak on July 19, with waves reaching up to 6 meters high.

He said the phenomenon was caused by differences in air pressure thanks to the tropical cyclone Son Tinh in the South China Sea, followed by tropical cyclone Ampil. This led to high wind speeds that later resulted in high waves on the beaches along Java Island’s southern coast.

“Until July 29, high waves still have the potential to occur on the southern coast of Yogyakarta, with waves expected to reach up to 5 m high,” Sigit said.

The team called on people to avoid conducting intensive investment activities along an area within 100 m of the coastline.