Indonesia: Lake Toba faces threat of water pollution

Apriadi Gunawan THE JAKARTA POST 4 Dec 17;

A man rowing in the vast Lake Toba, listed as a Special Economic Zone (KEK) and a priority destination. (Shutterstock/File)

As the government steps up efforts to boost tourism and promote Lake Toba as a prime tourist destination, the iconic North Sumatra lake continues to be marred by water pollution.

The finding was made recently by a team of researchers from the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, which is currently conducting a further study on how the environmental problem has affected the ecosystem in the lake.

In its initial study, the team found that lake’s water had been polluted by industrial waste, keramba (floating net cages for fish cultivation) and the flow of dirty water from nearby rivers.

“Our provisional results showed that the pollution covers about 30 percent of the lake,” research team coordinator Krismono told The Jakarta Post recently.

The heaviest pollution occurred near the industrial area, river estuary and areas where keramba are installed, Krismono said.

The research was carried out amid the recent deaths of thousands of tons of fish in kerambas in Humbang Hasundutan regency’s Baktiraja district, which is located in the southern part of the lake.

A total of five such incidents have occurred this year in several parts of the lake, including some in a different regency.

Water pollution, Krismono added, was a factor that contributed to the fish deaths, but kerambas being used to cultivate fish beyond their capacity is suspected to be the main cause of the incident.

“This is a warning nevertheless. This situation needs to be resolved immediately.”

A total of six individuals are involved in the team carrying out the research that began on Nov. 27. Slated to be completed on Dec. 6, the research is a follow-up to the previous study in August that aims to support the government’s plan to turn Lake Toba into a pollution-free international tourist attraction.

The study in August found that the main source of pollution in the lake was the water from 25 polluted rivers that flowed into it.

Recognized as the biggest volcanic lake in the world at 87 kilometers long and 27 km wide with the breathtaking natural beauty of Samosir Island at its center, Lake Toba spans seven regencies in the province, including Humbang Hasundutan, Toba Samosir, Karo and North Tapanuli.

Albert Sidabutar, the spokesman for Toba Samosir regency, which covers a vast area in the southeastern part of the lake, confirmed the lake had been polluted for a long time, with his regency being one of those contributing to the environmental damage.

Pollutants from his region, he added, came from the industrial area, and eventually flowed into the river running to the lake.

“We have been trying [to resolve the problem], but it is taking a long time as the solution is dependent on residents’ awareness,” Albert said.

The Toba Samosir administration, he added, had launched several campaigns and training events for residents in order to raise their awareness about the environment, and to foster a sense of belonging with the lake and a shared responsibility to keep it clean.

The picturesque Lake Toba, which some people envision as the “Monaco of Asia,” is among 10 new priority destinations in the national strategic tourism plan, which was launched recently by the government.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has recently inaugurated Silangit International Airport in North Tapanuli and Medan-Tebing Tinggi toll road to support the plan for the 10 new destinations, which have also been dubbed the new Balis.

Before gaining its spot in the priority list, the image of Lake Toba had declined in recent years.

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Indonesia faces severe weather warning

Fardah Assegaf Antara 5 Dec 17;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Severe weather has hit several regions in Indonesia, triggering hydrological natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, huge sea waves, and strong winds, that have affected thousands of people during the current rainy season.

Cyclones, which are quite rare in the country, have also built up lately, with Cempaka and Dahlia cyclones becoming the famous ones.

Several provinces that have been hit by natural disasters include Aceh Darussalam, Yogyakarta, East Java, Central Java, West Java, North Sumatra, Batam, West Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, and Riau.

Few of those regions, such as Yogyakarta, East Lombok, Pekalongan Sidoarjo, and Kulon Progo, have declared emergency alert status because of the hydrological natural disasters.

Karangasem District in Bali Province has also declared an emergency status due to eruptions of Mount Agung, forcing thousands of people to evacuate to safer places.

On Nov 28, the Yogyakarta Special Autonomous Provincial Administration has declared an emergency alert status following natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, and whirlwinds, which hit Bantul and Kulon Progo.

The National Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency had reported that extreme weather will continue for three days, but Yogyakarta has declared an emergency status for two weeks, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, the governor of Yogyakarta, has stated.

The decision to declare the emergency status was taken during a coordination meeting on disaster mitigation, attended by officials of the Yogyakarta disaster mitigation office.

According to data from Yogyakarta city`s disaster mitigation office, landslides hit nine locations and whirlwinds also affected nine locations, claiming the lives of three residents.

In Kulon Progo, 20 locations were hit by whirlwinds, 27 by landslides, and 6 by floods, affecting 58 people, injuring 3, and leading to 2 others going missing. At least one thousand hectares of rice fields were also inundated.

In Gunung Kidul District, one person died, two were injured, and 3,276 others affected by whirlwinds, landslides, and floods.

In Aceh, floods had hit tens of villages in Lhokseumawe and North Aceh District, following incessant heavy rains over the past several days.

In North Sumatra, floods hit 21 villages in five sub-districts, Tebing Tinggi. The flooding was triggered by incessant heavy rains in upstream areas in Simalungun District and Pematang Siantar, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), said in a statement, on Dec 3.

In the districts of Pacitan and Ponorogo in East Java Province, power outage was reported in 80 villages, as power sub-stations were damaged due to flooding in the two districts. A total of 76,362 end users were affected by the power outage.

Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Development Puan Maharani recently chaired a coordination meeting on hydrological and geological disaster mitigation efforts. Several ministers and relevant high-ranking officials were present in the meeting.

"This meeting discussed coordination to anticipate and mitigate floods and landslides currently occurring in several regions in Indonesia and the eruption of Mount Agung in Bali," Maharani remarked.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on the public to stay vigilant against severe weather lately.

"I call on the public to stay vigilant because of the extreme weather," Jokowi told the media on Dec 2.

The Head of State has instructed his relevant officials, particularly the personnel of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and regional administrations, to anticipate the disaster and be ready to provide assistance to the public when needed.

"We have to anticipate the impacts of extreme weather, particularly on food production," he stated.

So far, there have been no reports on the weather`s impact on crop production; however, anticipation should be intensified.

"This is just December, and we will be moving into January soon," he said, referring to the peak of rainy season, which falls in January and February. He added that logistic routes must also be protected from natural disasters.

In fact, according to data of the World Bank, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other extreme natural disasters push 26 million people into poverty each year and cost the global economy more than half a trillion dollars in lost consumption.

Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa has revealed that natural disasters have also pushed people into poverty in Indonesia.

"Some 80 percent of people affected by natural disasters have finally pushed them into poverty again, although they had previously been categorized as prosperous," she remarked on Dec 3.

She cited data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) that 323 towns and districts across the country are prone to natural disasters during December this year.

The minister also revealed that the number of people displaced by natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, and volcano eruptions, have significantly increased annually.

The number of evacuees reached 3.2 million during 2017, up from 2.7 million in 2016 and 1.2 million in 2015, Parawansa pointed out, while officially closing the National Jamboree of Muhammadiyah`s volunteers, which was organized by the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC).

She lauded the jamboree, because volunteers played crucial roles in helping victims of natural disasters.

The minister also asked every stakeholder in charge of handling disasters to always be ready to deliver assistance, particularly during December, the peak of rainy season.

"The peak of rainy season is in December; therefore, we must increase our vigilance and alertness. Hopefully, we can pass this December safely," she revealed.

(f001/INE/B003)
Editor: Heru Purwanto

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Thailand: Leatherback turtle power on wane as trawlers take toll

APINYA WIPATAYOTIN Bangkok Post 4 Dec 17;

The "Tao Mafueng" or leatherback sea turtle, the largest of all living turtles, is on the verge of extinction from the Thai sea, according the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Thanya Nethithammakul, the department chief, said yesterday the species had not been seen for some time, having not come to lay eggs as usual. Leatherback sea turtles swim seasonally to lay eggs at two sites. The first is Thai Muang Beach in Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Muang National Park in Phang Nga and the second is a stretch of beach in Sirinat National Park in Phuket.

Monitoring between 2003-2013 at Thai Muang Beach found turtles laid 2,678 eggs there and 1,574, or 58.7% survived.

At Sirinat National Park, 166 eggs were laid between 1999-2013 but the survival rate was slim given the intensive property development along the beach, and since 2013 no further eggs have been observed there.

"This is unusual. The disappearance of Tao Mafueng serves as an alarm call. Do not forget that Thailand was once a sanctuary for leatherback turtles," said Mr Tanya, adding that irresponsible fishing, including the use of trawlers, is one of the factors to blame.

Property development on the beach had played a role in scaring the turtles away. Another factor is the traditional belief that consuming turtle eggs will boost one's health, especially sexual virility. There have been reports of villagers selling leatherback eggs for up to 150 baht each, according to information from the department.


Four-year absence of leatherback turtles at Phuket nesting beaches
“The last time that we received a report of leatherback turtles laying eggs in these national parks was in 2013. This is abnormal and very worrying".
Phuket Gazette 5 Dec 17;

With the leatherback turtle already listed internationally as a critically endangered species, the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department yesterday expressed serious concern that none of the animals had returned to beaches in Phuket and Phang-nga to lay eggs since 2013.

Director-general Thanya Netithammakun raised the alarm over the survival of the leatherbacks, as there have no reports of females of the species returning to lay their eggs at the beaches in Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park in Phang-nga province and Sirinat National Park in Phuket for four years. Thanya said he suspected that increased development on the beaches was the main reason for the disappearance of the giant turtles, as the greater presence of human activities on the beaches disrupted their nesting grounds.

“The last time that we received a report of leatherback turtles laying eggs in these national parks was in 2013. This is abnormal and very worrying, because the turtles will nest on the same beach every year during November to February and these two national parks are the main nesting grounds for leatherback turtles in Thailand,” he explained. In light of this growing concern, the department is striving to develop a plan to re-establish a suitable environment for the turtles to nest on these beaches again. Leatherbacks are the largest turtle species in the world and can be found in all tropical and subtropical oceans.

However, the species is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being critically endangered, and is also on Thailand’s list of reserved animals. The major reasons for the worldwide mass reduction in leatherback numbers are the loss of nesting grounds and sea-garbage problems, as it is increasingly common to find that the turtles die from consuming plastic bags, which closely resemble their main diet of jellyfish.

- Phuket Gazette & The Nation

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Sea turtles' sad fate: from restaurant menus to plastic 'soup'

Mariëtte Le Roux AFP Yahoo News 4 Dec 17;

Watamu (Kenya) (AFP) - Gently, Kenzo the sea turtle is lowered onto a beach where a scattering of bottle caps, candy wrappers, yoghurt cups and discarded flipflops scar an otherwise idyllic setting.

As its human handlers step aside, Kenzo struggles out of the harness, pushes hard with its flippers on the sand, and slides into small waves specked with bits of plastic trash.

With a final gulp of air, the hawksbill turtle executes a perfect butterfly stroke and disappears into deeper water -- a rare lucky escape for one of Kenya's sea turtles, increasingly under siege from humanity's plastic binge.

Dozens of the endangered creatures need rescuing every year around the coastal town of Watamu, where plastic litter accumulates in the Indian Ocean and the beach from as far afield as Indonesia, Madagascar and Yemen, according to the product labels.

Most common are bottle tops, but there are also cigarette lighters, toothbrushes, food containers, different lengths of string, drinks bottles and of course, the ubiquitous plastic shopping bag.

Turtles confuse these items, bobbing and fluttering about in the ocean currents, for jellyfish or other prey. To their peril.

"It causes a blockage... but they're still hungry so they keep eating and it compounds, compounds, compounds and they explode on the inside," said Casper van de Geer, manager of Local Ocean Conservation, which runs the Watamu turtle rescue.

"Or they are in such pain that they recognise that they have to stop eating and they basically starve," he told AFP at Watamu's Blue Lagoon as he repeatedly bent down to pick up one piece of beach litter after the other.

- 'Sometimes they can't' -

Many turtles are found floating, barely alive, having eaten so much plastic that they become buoyant and can no longer dive into the depths where they live and feed.

Once they reach this point, few can be saved.

At a turtle "clinic", van de Geer and his team tube-feed laxatives to the turtles in hopes that the intestinal plug can be loosened.

"It takes a while but eventually after a lot of pain, and I mean it's a reptile so it can't express pain like a mammal can in its face, but you can see that it's just closing its eyes and its all sort of tensed up and all of a sudden 'poof', it all comes out," he told AFP.

But "sometimes they can't. More (often) than not, the animal will... die."

Plastic ocean pollution is a key item on the menu for ministers from over 100 countries gathering in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi for a three-day UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) starting Monday.

The problem is a global one, affecting all the oceans and hundreds of animal and plant species.

According to environmental group WWF, 8.8 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean every year, the equivalent of a garbage truck dumping a full load every minute.

Plastic is cheap, versatile and nigh-indestructible. And by now it is pretty much everywhere.

A shopping bag is estimated to degrade over hundreds of years, and harder plastics could be around for millennia before they are broken down and absorbed in the environment.

- 'A very successful story' -

In July, US researchers said more than 9.1 billion tonnes of plastic had been produced to date, most of it dumped into landfills and the oceans.

Ahead of the UNEA meeting to tackle the scourge of pollution, UN Environment Programme head Erik Solheim urged action to stop the oceans becoming a "plastic soup".

On current trends, he warned, "by 2050 there will be more plastic in the seas than fish."

In Watamu, the locals do what they can.

Mohamed Iddi, a 42-year-old fisherman, proudly proclaims that he voluntarily collects two or three large garbage bags full of plastic along the Blue Lagoon beach every day.

"Some plastic is brought from the sea. Some others is from... when people they come for the enjoyment on the beach, for the barbecue, the picnic," he says, pointing to large piles of collected rubbish, divided into categories, with a special heap for shoe soles.

"Sometimes I find (plastic) in the stomachs" of the fish he catches. "Ropes, the small ones. Because when the fish goes to look for some prey... when it finds something like this... it will think maybe it is something to eat."

Elsewhere in town, a project called Regeneration Africa melts and treats the plastic gathered by volunteers such as Iddi, and moulds it into paving stones and other materials to sell for funds to continue the anti-plastic drive.

Fisherman-turned-environmentalist Kahindi Changawa, 40, looks with a smile over the tank for Kai, a green turtle which has been recovering from plastic ingestion at the Watamu rehabilitation centre for nearly a month.

Green turtles were once a delicacy in Kenya, but may no longer be eaten under laws to protect the endangered species from extinction.

Kai was brought in emaciated, and unable to stay underwater. On top of the laxative, it was given anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic medicines, and appetite-boosting multivitamins.

For six days now, no plastic has been spotted in the turtle's stool, Changawa says with tangible relief.

"It has fully recovered, when you take it out (of the recovery tank) it is flapping, it is fighting," he said.

"It's a very successful story, we are hoping to release it if not today, in the next two days or so."

Many others will not be so lucky.

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'Shame and anger' at plastic ocean pollution

David Shukman BBC 5 Dec 17;

Scientists who advised the Blue Planet II documentary team say they feel "shame and anger" at the “plague of plastic” impacting the natural world.

Even in the remote waters of Antarctica, they have found evidence of plastic killing and harming seabirds.

Wandering albatrosses – which have the longest wingspan of any birds alive today – are thought to be especially vulnerable.

Nesting on the barren islands of South Georgia, they feed their young by scouring thousands of miles of ocean for squid and fish but often bring back plastic instead.

The final episode of what has become the most-watched TV programme of the year explores how the oceans are threatened by human activities including overfishing and pollution.

It will be broadcast on Sunday 10 December.

In a particularly moving scene, Dr Lucy Quinn, a zoologist, is seen checking albatross chicks on Bird Island where she was the British Antarctic Survey’s winter manager for more than two years.

One chick that Dr Quinn found dead and later dissected was killed because a plastic toothpick that it swallowed had pierced its stomach.

Others had regurgitated plastic items including cling film, food packaging, cutlery and parts of bottles.

Dr Quinn told me: “I feel real shame and anger that it’s humans who have caused this problem.

"It’s really sad because you get to know the birds and how long it takes the parents, away for ten days at a time, to collect food for their chicks and what they bring back is plastic.

"And what’s sad is that the plague of plastic is as far-reaching as these seemingly pristine environments."

It's not known how many albatross chicks in Antarctica die from plastic pollution every year – it's thought to be fewer than the losses suffered by Laysan albatrosses on Midway Atoll in the Pacific .

But on Bird Island, predators often eat dead chicks before the researchers can reach them – and the suspicion is that the effect of the plastic goes beyond the direct killing of seabirds.

According to Dr Quinn, the threat is more insidious, weakening birds as they waste energy trying to digest plastic, which has no nutritional value, and potentially poisoning them as chemicals are released when the plastic breaks down in their stomachs.

Research at the other end of the world into a smaller relative of the albatross – the fulmars of the North Sea – shows that while plastics may directly kill seabirds, it is the debilitating effects of the waste that could be more serious.

Studies of fulmars found dead on beaches or caught accidentally by fishermen – which Dr Quinn has also been involved in – show that from 2010-2014, UK fulmars were found to contain on average 39 particles of plastic weighing a total of 0.32 grams.

In an unsettling image, the volume of space taken up by that plastic in a fulmar’s belly is the equivalent in a human stomach of the contents of a typical lunchbox, and usually the plastic is made up of consumer items used just once and then thrown away.

Most shocking is the effect of party balloons, released in a moment of celebration, but then catching the eye of a fulmar searching for food.

Dr Quinn remembers one occasion when she dissected one of the birds.

"I couldn’t believe my eyes, seeing a balloon in the bird’s oesophagus, which would have killed it, along with cling film, toothbrushes and packaging – I feel extremely sad for the birds and impatient to do something," she said.

The plastic may be undermining the fulmars’ health, which could affect their ability to breed - with long-term implications for the population as a whole.

The threat from plastic waste is not limited to pieces that are visible – bottles, bags and other items break down into minute fragments, or "micro-plastics", which enter the food chain in every corner of the ocean.

Scientists from the University of Newcastle even identified tiny fibres in the smallest creatures living in the deepest part of the Pacific, the Mariana Trench.

Dr Jon Copley, of the University of Southampton, who joined the Blue Planet submarine filming in Antarctica, says that although he did not spot any plastic in the polar waters, he has been shocked by its presence elsewhere.

"When I've seen plastic in the deep ocean - such as a bin liner we found near deep-sea vents in the Cayman Trough - there's an initial shock and disappointment that our rubbish has got here before us as explorers.

"But then there's the realisation that our everyday lives are more connected to the deep ocean than we perhaps think.

"Every piece of plastic rubbish has a story, so it also makes me wonder about the chain of events that led to that particular item ending up in the deep ocean, and whether any of those events could have been prevented."

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Ocean plastic a 'planetary crisis' - UN

Roger Harrabin BBC News 5 Dec 17;

Life in the seas risks irreparable damage from a rising tide of plastic waste, the UN oceans chief has warned.

Lisa Svensson said governments, firms and individual people must act far more quickly to halt plastic pollution.

"This is a planetary crisis," she said. "In a few short decades since we discovered the convenience of plastics, we are ruining the ecosystem of the ocean."

She was speaking to BBC News ahead of a UN environment summit in Nairobi.

Delegates at the meeting want tougher action against plastic litter.

Ms Svensson had just been saddened by a Kenyan turtle hospital which treats animals that have ingested waste plastic.

She saw a juvenile turtle named Kai, brought in by fishermen a month ago because she was floating on the sea surface.

Plastic waste was immediately suspected, because if turtles have eaten too much plastic it bloats their bellies and they can't control their buoyancy.

Kai was given laxatives for two weeks to clear out her system, and Ms Svensson witnessed an emotional moment as Kai was carried back to the sea to complete her recovery.

'Heart-breaking' reality

"It's a very happy moment," she said. "But sadly we can't be sure that Kai won't be back again if she eats more plastic.
"It's heart-breaking, but it's reality. We just have to do much more to make sure the plastics don't get into the sea in the first place."

Caspar van de Geer runs the turtle hospital for the group Local Ocean Conservation at Watamu in eastern Kenya.
He had demonstrated earlier how uncannily a plastic film pulsating in the water column mimics the actions of the jellyfish some turtles love to eat.

"Turtles aren't stupid," he said. "It's really difficult to tell the difference between plastics and jellyfish, and it may be impossible for a turtle to learn."

On a pin board he's compiled a grid of sealed clear plastic bags like the ones used at airports for cosmetics.
Here they contain the plastic fragments removed from the stomachs of sick turtles. Half of the turtles brought here after eating plastics have died.

A huge table at the hospital is laden with an array of plastic waste collected off local beaches - from fishing nets and nylon ropes to unidentifiable fragments of plastic film.

There's waste from down the coast as far as Tanzania - but also from Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, Thailand, Indonesia and even a bottle from far-away Japan.

There's a score of mysterious white plastic rings which staff speculate are the rims of yoghurt pots, a plastic lighter. There are disintegrating woven plastic fertiliser bags, plastic straws - and much more.

Bite marks show some items like small suncream bottles have clearly been nibbled at by fish, because they look like potential food.

Local people scour the beach daily for plastic waste. They want clean beaches, and they're aware that local hotels want the same.

But along the high water line millions of the fragments of plastics are mixed in with dried sea grass, too small to be collected.

Gaining momentum?

"The scale of the challenge is absolutely enormous," says Ms Svensson. She's backing a resolution by Norway this week for the world to completely eliminate plastic waste into the ocean.

If all nations agree to that long-term goal it'll be considered a UN success.

Certainly, it sounds more ambitious than the current commitment to substantially decrease waste inputs into the sea by 2025.
But some environmentalists argue that the absence of a timetable for preventing waste is a huge failing.

Tisha Brown from Greenpeace told BBC News: "We welcome that they are looking at a stronger statement, but with billions of tonnes of plastic waste entering the oceans we need much more urgent action.

"We need manufacturers to take responsibility for their products - and we need to look at our consumption patterns that are driving all this."
Indonesia - the world's second biggest plastics polluter after China - has pledged to reduce plastic waste into the ocean 75% by 2025, but some observers doubt legal rules are strong enough to make this happen.

Plastic waste is also on the agenda for this month's China Council - an influential high level dialogue in which world experts advise China's leaders on environmental issues.

Kenya itself has banned single-use plastic bags, along with Rwanda, Tanzania and - soon- Sri Lanka. Bangladesh has had controls for many years, especially to stop bags clogging up drains and causing floods.

But bags are just one part of the problem - there are so many other types of plastic flowing through waterways.

"The UN process is slow," Ms Svensson admitted. "It could take 10 years to get a UN treaty agreed on plastic litter and a further two years to get it implemented.

"We have to progress through the UN because this is a truly global problem - but we can't wait that long.

"We need to get much stronger actions from civil society, putting pressure on business to change - they can switch their supply chains very fast. And we need more individual governments to take urgent action too."

She praised the BBC's Blue Planet series and urged other parts of the media to highlight the issue.

Ms Svensson said the ocean was facing multiple assault from over-fishing; pollution from chemicals, sewage and agriculture; development in coastal areas; climate change; ocean acidification; and over-exploitation of coral reefs.

"This is a planetary emergency," she said. "I sense there is a momentum now about the need to act. We just have to be much faster."

As we left Watamu after Kai's joyous release, I turned back for one last glance at the Indian Ocean. A small boy tossed a plastic bottle over his shoulder into the sparkling water.

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Best of our wild blogs: 4 Dec 17

Dugongs at Cyrene Reef
wild shores of singapore

Butterfly Photography at Our Local Parks - Springleaf Nature Park
Butterflies of Singapore

Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) @ Singapore Botanic Gardens
Monday Morgue

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AVA to ramp up monitoring of farms for resistant bacteria

It will cover all animal production sectors amid global threat of antibiotic resistance
Cheow Sue-Ann Straits Times 4 Dec 17;

In the face of a global spread of antibiotic resistance, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) will be ramping up the monitoring of resistant bacteria in livestock reared at local farms.

This is because antibiotics fed to animals can end up affecting human health upon consumption.

The authority said it is expanding its surveillance programme in phases to all animal production sectors, including farms rearing fish, cattle and goats. Besides the animals themselves, their products, such as milk, will also be monitored.

Currently, the agency's surveillance focuses on food-borne pathogens, such as salmonella, in local layer hen farms.

For a start, AVA has expanded its surveillance since last month to other poultry and ruminant farms such as those rearing goats.

The move follows the launch of the National Strategic Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) by Senior Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min last month.

The plan covers a broad range of areas, from medical prescription of antibiotics and public education to better monitoring at local farms.

EXISTING REGULATIONS

In Singapore, AVA has banned the use of certain antibiotics in food-producing animals and antibiotics are not allowed to be used for promoting growth of animals. Farmers who use antibiotics in their animals are required to observe a certain time period before the animals or animal products can be slaughtered or sold.

AN AVA SPOKESMAN
It was drawn up by an inter-ministerial committee - the first time the Singapore authorities joined hands to provide a whole-of-government effort to tackle antibiotic resistance.

The World Health Organisation in October also put forth recommendations for farmers worldwide to halt the use of antibiotics in healthy animals. It said the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, not just in humans but also in animals, are worsening the threat of antibiotic resistance.

In response to queries, the AVA said it will also extend surveillance of AMR bacteria in both imported food and local farms to include bacteria such as E. coli. However, it said there are existing regulations in place at local farms to prevent the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

"In Singapore, AVA has banned the use of certain antibiotics in food-producing animals, and antibiotics are not allowed to be used for promoting growth of animals," said a spokesman.

"Farmers who use antibiotics in their animals are required to observe a certain time period before the animals or animal products can be slaughtered or sold," he added.

Only in some cases, such as when there are bacterial infections in animals, can farmers apply antibiotics.

But imported meat and eggs may not be antibiotic-free, though the level of these chemicals are tested and monitored by the AVA.

Nanyang Technological University Food Technology Centre director Jorgen Schlundt said antibiotic resistance can be caused by overuse of such medication in farming and agriculture.

As microbes become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, even minor illnesses can be a threat to human life. Today, the problem kills about 700,000 people globally each year, noted Professor Schlundt.

"Resistant bacteria are additionally dangerous because when you get sick from them and the medical doctor gives you an antimicrobial to cure you, that antimicrobial might not work," he explained.

Local farmers say not using antibiotics has come at some cost.

Said Mr William Ho, 51, owner of Lian Wah Hang Quail Farm at Lim Chu Kang : "Even though not using such medication does raise our operation cost by about 15 per cent, the knowledge that the eggs we sell are good for the public is worth it."

He added that imported eggs may not be antibiotic-free, while local produce will more likely be.

Maintaining a clean environment has also aided farmers in doing away with antibiotics.

Mr Eric Ng, 44, group chief executive officer of Apollo Aquaculture Group, said he uses "several technologies to ensure that the water our fish live in is cleaner and therefore less likely to lead to disease".

Local egg-farming giant Seng Choon Farm said basic hygiene practices such as hand washing, disinfection procedures and pest control are as important on the farm as in a hospital. It also employs vaccinations, prebiotics, probiotics, phytogenics or other natural ingredients to boost the birds' immunity.

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Half of food thrown away by Singapore households can be avoided: NEA study

Channel NewsAsia 3 Dec 17;

SINGAPORE: More than half of the food waste generated by Singapore households could have been avoided by not ordering, buying or cooking too much, a recent study found.

The amount of food waste measured in the study conducted by the National Environment Agency (NEA) between November 2016 to March 2017 was equal to throwing away a 2.5kg bag of rice every week, the agency said in a news release on Sunday (Dec 3).

The study involved collecting waste from 279 households over three days and sorting it to determine the amount of "avoidable" and "unavoidable" food waste including parts of food not intended for consumption such as bones and egg shells.

A total of 443 families were also interviewed to understand their food waste management habits.

About one in four households said they had leftovers after a meal at least half the time. A quarter said they often threw away spoilt or expired food, mostly because they had bought too much food and had food hidden at the back of the fridge.

Half of them acknowledged that they could have taken steps to avoid food waste generated from leftovers after a meal, food expiring or becoming spoilt, and throwing away blemished fruits and vegetables.

More than 50 per cent of the families interviewed also suggested that supermarkets pack food items into smaller portions and for eateries to offer different dish portion sizes.

FOOD WASTE HEAVIER THAN 3,500 MRT TRAINS

Food waste accounts for about half of the waste disposed by each Singapore household every day. Rice, noodles and bread are the most commonly wasted food items, according to the study.

Food waste in Singapore has increased by about 40 per cent over the last 10 years, with the amount last year being equivalent to the weight of more than 3,500 MRT trains, NEA said.

"At the current rate of waste disposal, we will require a new waste-to-energy plant to be built every seven to 10 years and a new landfill to be built every 35 years. This is not sustainable given Singapore’s land scarcity constraints," it added.

The agency advised members of the public to buy, cook or order only what they need. Tips include making a shopping list to avoid impulse buys, asking for less rice or noodles based on one’s appetite, as well as using leftovers to cook the next meal.

They are also advised to store raw foods that are not consumed within three to four days in the refrigerator to minimise nutrition loss as well as bacteria spoilage due to Singapore's warm temperature.

"Food waste is an important issue to tackle as part of our efforts to move Singapore towards our vision of a Zero Waste Nation," said Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources at a grassroots event on Sunday.

"If everyone does their part to reduce food waste, we also save on the resources needed to produce the food, as well as to dispose of it. This in turn reduces our carbon footprint," she added.
Source: CNA/kc

More than half of food thrown away by households can be avoided: NEA study
KELLY NG Today Online 4 Dec 17;

Amount of food waste generated in Singapore has increased by about 40 per cent over last 10 years

SINGAPORE — More than half of food waste generated by Singapore households would not have been trashed if they were better managed, such as by buying and cooking the right proportions, a waste audit has found.

This amount of "avoidable" food waste generated by each household amounts to chucking a 2.5kg bag of rice each week, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Sharing these findings at a community health event for ladies at Hong Kah North Community Club on Sunday (Dec 3), Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor urged Singaporeans to avoid wasting food during the upcoming festive season by not succumbing to "impulse buys". She suggested saving leftovers for other dishes and ordering only what one can consume while eating out.

"It is a period when we tend to over indulge... This festive season, I hope everyone will adopt healthier eating habits and eat in moderation by ordering or cooking only what you need," she said.

"This will not only allow us to keep healthy but also avoid food waste and reduce expenses. At the same time, we will be doing our bit for the environment."

The NEA study on household waste showed that 54 per cent of food waste generated by households would not have been binned if people adopted a more prudent approach towards managing their food.

Twenty seven per cent of households interviewed in the study - which polled 443 families from November 2016 to March this year - said they had leftovers at least half the time.

In addition, about one in four (24 per cent) said they often threw away spoilt and expired food as a result of buying too much, or due to having food items hidden at the back of the fridge.

"Personally, I must confess that it happens to me, when I go to a supermarket... So I think it is important to raise awareness among consumers, give them tips, on how to manage food waste," said Dr Khor.

The amount of food waste generated in Singapore has increased by about 40 per cent over the last 10 years. Last year, the city state generated 791,000 tonnes of food waste - equivalent to the weight of over 3,500 MRT trains, noted the NEA.

As part of the audit, waste was collected from 279 household over three days and sorted to determine the amount of "avoidable" and "unavoidable" food waste, including parts of food not intended for consumption, like bones and egg shells, that each households throws away.

Food waste accounts for about half the waste disposed by each Singapore household daily. Staples like rice, noodles and bread are the most commonly discarded food items.

Dr Khor said that as society becomes more affluent, food choices have also increased. "People start consuming more, and that can become a habit," she said.

"Sometimes, culture (plays a part too). For instance, during festive seasons like Chinese New Year, they always say... We must always have some (food) left over."

Half of the households interviewed acknowledged, on hindsight, that they could have done more to avoid food waste in the form of leftovers, expired or spoilt food, and blemished fruits and vegetables.

Fifty four per cent of the households surveyed also said that retailers and manufacturers can help to reduce food wastage, such as by packing food in smaller portions.

The authorities will look at working with business like supermarkets and food retail outlets to reduce food waste, said Dr Khor.

On Sunday, she also announced the second National Falls Prevention Awareness Campaign, which will focus on preventing falls at home for the elderly.

Six in 10 falls among seniors occur at home, according to figures from the National Trauma Registry.

As such, this year's campaign centres on encouraging households to keep their floors clutter-free, use non-slip mats and install grab-bars to provide extra support.

"Falls are a common cause of injury and can have serious implications on health and quality of life... Together, we can make our homes safe for ourselves and our loved ones," said Dr Khor.


2.5kg of food a week wasted by each household, equal to half of all household waste: NEA study
Lim Min Zhang Straits Times 3 Dec 17;

SINGAPORE - About 2.5kg of food waste is thrown away by an average Singapore home each week, and this makes uphalf of all waste the home disposes, a National Environment Agency (NEA) study released on Sunday (Dec 3) showed.

More than half the food wasted could be avoided through people not buying, ordering or cooking excessively, with rice, noodles and bread forming the most commonly wasted food items, said the five-month study involving 443 homes.

The findings underscore the fact that the amount of food waste generated in Singapore has increased by about 40 per cent over the last 10 years, with the amount last year (2016) - 791,000 tonnes - equivalent to the weight of more than 3,500 MRT trains.

At a grassroots event at Hong Kah Community Club on Sunday, Senior Minister of State for Health, and the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said a more affluent society and a wider range of food choices were possible reasons for this increase.

People in 443 homes took part in the household waste study from November 2016 to March 2017.

Waste samples were collected from 279 of these homes over three days a week to determine the proportion that was avoidable, versus waste not intended for human consumption, such as egg shells and bones. The other homes had interviews done.

The survey showed that 27 per cent of the homes had leftovers after a meal at least half the time, while 24 per cent often threw away spoilt or expired food, mainly because the respondentsbought too much, and they were not aware of food items hidden at the back of the fridge.

Dr Khor agreed with the agency's appeal for businesses to take on a greater role to reduce food waste.

Even if it's a little effort, do something to lead a healthier lifestyle: Amy Khor

About 54 per cent of the study's respondents also agreed, suggesting that food be packed in smaller portions at supermarkets, and having food outlets offer different food portions.

To avoid having to throw away food turned bad, Ms Gladys Wong, chief dietitian and senior manager of nutrition and dietetics at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, advised people to refrigerate most raw foods not consumed within three or four days, given Singapore's warm temperature.

"If possible, store foods whole. Cut or peel only before eating or cooking as the cut surfaces of the foods when exposed to air can result in some nutrient loss," she said.

At Singapore's current rate of waste disposal, a new waste-to-energy plant needs to be built every seven to 10 years, while a new landfill would be needed every 35 years.

This is not sustainable given Singapore's land scarcity, said the NEA statement on the study results.

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Used wine bottles get new lease of life as plates, tuna cans double as giant chess pieces at 'upcycling' market

Raffaella Nathan Charles Straits Times 2 Dec 17;

SINGAPORE - When three friends got together to drink their first bottle of wine at 18, they came up with a novel idea to preserve the moment: flatten the bottle, and "upcycle" it into pretty glassware.

A year and a half later, a successful business, Glassland, was formed to turn used glass bottles into pretty plates.

On Saturday (Dec 2), the company took up one of 30 product booths - up from 16 last year - at the third annual UP Market.

The event, held at HDB Hub in Toa Payoh, was Singapore's first upcycling-themed market to encourage a zero-waste lifestyle.

Upcycling refers to the creative reuse of materials that are usually discarded.

Around 4,000 residents visited the day-long market, making their rounds through product booths from eco-friendly vendors such as Glassland.

"We have made more than 200 products, most of them customised," said Mr Lee Cheng Hei, 20, director of business development at Glassland, which now has four partners.

A lot of research went into engineering the glass-flattening process, including heating up the glass and the chemicals that went into it, said the second-year Ngee Ann Polytechnic student.

The plates, costing around $30 each, "challenge environmental sustainability concerns and encourage upcycling", said Mr Lee, who is studying business.

Another vendor, TerraSG, is a social enterprise that advocates eco-friendliness as well.

The business was set up to make "old things that people think should be thrown away into new things of even higher value than at first", said co-founder Kelvin Wong, 34.

Together with co-founder Eric Oh, 42, Mr Wong reached out to employ single mothers, the elderly and the intellectually disabled to make crafts such as fairy lights inside 1.5-litre milk bottles, coin pouches made of milk cartons, and coconut husk fibres converted into plant pots.

Mr Wong said: "We started out trying to be a ground-up initiative, calling for Singaporeans to be more green. We also knew we wanted to focus more on lifestyle products that approach environmental concerns in an appealing and sustainable way."

This message was also brought out by Mayor Denise Phua and Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

Mrs Teo, who is also Second Minister for Manpower and Home Affairs, hoped that the market could "enable more citizens to keep Singapore clean and green".

Mrs Phua reminded residents that Pulau Semakau's landfill was half full, stating that there was an "urgency to work towards a zero-waste Singapore".

The market also had workshops, game booths and six Instagram-worthy installations as well - a new concept for event organiser Central Singapore Community Development Council.

The six new installations aimed to inspire marketgoers to craft their own upcycled wares, and show cool household hacks such as using kettles as lamps, or use big plastic milk bottles as an organiser for assorted things at home, from cutlery to toys.

There were also bean bags made of T-shirts and a plant wall using plastic fizzy drink bottles.

Other than taking cute photos at the photogenic installations, families, and even senior citizens, had fun playing at the games booths. One had a giant chess board with round tuna cans as chess pieces.

Ms Thennarasi Gopalnaidu, a 24-year-old who works in the wine industry, said of the market: "It's an amazing initiative to encourage Singaporeans to be good to the earth. I do my own crafts as well, so it's pretty inspiring to see that we can craft while also staying eco-friendly."

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Malaysia: Pahang joins list of flood-hit states as Sungai Lipis bursts its banks

New Straits Times 3 Dec 17;

KUANTAN: Raub has become the first district in Pahang to be hit by floods in the current monsoon season after Sungai Lipis burst its banks following incessant heavy rain since Friday.

State Civil Defence Force director Zainal Yusoff said 47 people from two villages were evacuated to a surau in Cheroh and a community hall in Kampung Ulu Sungai in Raub overnight.

He said the first relief centre in Cheroh was opened at about 9.25pm on Saturday after two houses in Kampung Melayu Cheroh were inundated by ankle-deep water.

"As the overflowing river water continued to rise, 10 victims from two families were immediately told to vacate their homes. Later, at about 11.30pm, Kampung Ulu Sungai was hit by the river water, forcing 37 victims to be evacuated.

"Police and firemen helped us to relocate the victims, while Welfare Department staff provided assistance at the relief centres," he said.

Zainal added that although the rain has stopped in Raub, the river’s level continues to rise and remains at the danger mark.

The number of flood victims evacuated to relief centres in Raub has increased to 68 as of noon, compared to 47 earlier today.

State Civil Defence Force director Zainal Yusoff said a third relief centre was opened at the Kuala Semantan Community hall at 8am to accommodate 21 evacuees from five families.

He said yesterday, 47 people from 14 families were evacuated to a surau in Cheroh and a community hall in Kampung Ulu Sungai here after Sungai Lipis burst its banks following incessant heavy rain since Friday.

"The victims are those staying in low-lying areas along Sungai Lipis, and they were immediately evacuated to relief centres before the situation could get worse.

"Since the weather has improved and the river is now flowing downstream, we have reminded those living along the river (downstream) to be prepared to leave their homes in the event that their homes are inundated," Zainal added.

Terengganu's coastal residents told to brace for monsoonal tidal waves
ADRIAN DAVID New Straits Times 3 Dec 17;

KUALA NERUS: Coastal residents of Terengganu have been advised to be on alert for monsoonal tidal waves that are expected to lash their villages in the coming days.

Terengganu Civil Defence Force director Lt Col Che Adam Abdul Rahman said that the adverse weather currently experienced by the state is expected to continue, and he advised the public to stay away from beaches.

He called on parents to closely monitor their children’s movements during the school holidays, as many would be tempted to play at beaches.

“The tidal waves are very treacherous and can pose a danger at any time. Some of the waves from this north-easterly monsoon can reach up to 1.79 metres.

“The winds will also be very strong and can blow off roof tops,” he said.

Adam added that the tidal waves could spill over to coastal roads and cautioned motorists to be on their guard.

“On our part, we have dispatched our mobile units to patrol coastal areas, in tandem with other enforcement agencies, and will send out alerts when necessary.

“The last thing we want is to see untoward incidents involving the loss of lives,” he said after visiting Tangjung Gelam in Mengabang Telipot, which is facing coastal erosion.

The state government has directed the Drainage and Irrigation Department to take immediate action at Tanjung Gelam to prevent a catastrophe.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued a Category Two warning of strong north-easterly winds of 50-60 km per hour and rough seas with waves reaching 4.5 metres off Condore, Reef North and Layang-Layang island in the South China Sea.

The department’s website stated that the situation, expected to last until Tuesday, is dangerous for all vessels, including recreational boats, fishing boats and ferries.

A Category One warning of winds of up to 40-50km per hour and waves of 3.5 metres high has been issued for Tioman, Bunguran, Reef South, Labuan (Sabah) and Palawan (the southern Philippines) during the same period.

Thunderstorms are also expected off Koh Samui in south Thailand, Condore and Reef North on Sunday night.

The affected regions cover Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Sarawak, Labuan and Sabah.

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Indonesia: Floods submerge 1,000 ha of rice fields in Kulon Progo

Antara 3 Dec 17;

Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - Floods submerged 1,000 hectares of rice fields in five sub-districts in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta special autonomous province.

"There are 1,000 hectares of rice fields that have been flooded. The floods have begun to subside since Saturday. Panjatan sub-district is the worst hit by flooding," Sasongko, head of the agriculture office of Yogyakarta, said here, Sunday.

Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X has instructed the district administration to compensate farmers who have lost their paddies if they are not covered by insurance.

The Sultan has extended the period of natural disaster emergency response status for two weeks, beginning Dec 6. Earlier, the emergency status was declared on Nov 29 until Dec 5, 2017.

Yogyakarta has declared an emergency alert status following natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, and whirlwinds, that hit the region. The

The National Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency had reported that extreme weather will continue for three days, but Yogyakarta has declared an emergency status for a week, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, the governor of Yogyakarta, stated here, Wednesday.

The decision to declare the emergency status was taken during a coordination meeting on disaster mitigation attended by officials of the Yogyakarta disaster mitigation office.

By declaring the emergency status, district and provincial authorities could use the reserve funds for disaster mitigation efforts.

The severe weather has been triggered by the Cempaka dan Dahlia tropical cyclones.

The Yogyakarta finance office has allocated Rp14 billion for disaster mitigation efforts.

According to data from Yogyakarta city`s disaster mitigation office, landslides hit nine locations and whirlwinds also affected nine locations, claiming the lives of three residents.

In Kulon Progo, 20 locations were hit by whirlwinds, 27 by landslides, and six by floods, affecting 58 people, injuring three, and leading to two others going missing.

reported by Sutarmi
(U.SYS/A/F001/F001)
Editor: Heru Purwanto


Floods hit 21 villages in Tebing Tinggi, N Sumatra
Antara 3 Dec 17;

Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Floods have hit 21 villages in five sub-districts, Tebing Tinggi, North Sumatra Province, since Saturday.

The flooding was triggered by incessant heavy rains in upstream areas in Simalungun District and Pematang Siantar, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), said in a statement, here, Sunday.

Padang and Bahilang Rivers have spilled over their banks because of the heavy rains.

A total of 21,080 people or 5,985 families have been affected by the flooding.

The Tebing Tinggi disaster mitigation office has set up emergency tents to accommodate evacuees. Relief aid comprising rice, breads, instant noodles, and 10 thousand boxes of meals, have been distributed to flood victims.

The affected villages are among other things Pabatu, Padang Merbau, Tualang, Lubuk Raya, Lubuk Baru, and Persiakan, which are located in Padang Hulu sub-district.

In Bandar Utama sub-district, flooding hits Badak Bejuang, while in Tebing Tinggi, flood inundates Tebing Tinggi Lama.

Sri Padang, Karya Jaya, Tanjung Marulak, and Tanjung Marulak Hilir villages in Rambutan sub-district are also flooded.

In Bajenis sub-district, floods inundate Teluk Karang, Bulian, Brohol, Pinang Mancung, and Bandar Sakti. The villages of Satria and Tambangan Hulu in Padang Hilir sub-district, are also flooded.

(T.SYS/B/F001/F001)
Editor: Heru Purwanto


Flood submerges 444 homes in Simalungun, N Sumatra
Antara 3 Dec 17;

Simalungun, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - A flood submerged 104 homes and affected 444 people in Serbelawan village, Simalungun District, North Sumatra Province, following incessant heavy rains.

"The flood waters came very fast, it was like a flash. We did not have time to save our belongings," Poniman, a local resident, said here, Saturday.

Reaching a height of up to three meters, the flood waters damaged several homes, places of worship, school buildings and other public facilities.

Deputy District Head of Simalungun Amran Sinaga and Head of the Simalungun Police Office Adjunct Senior Commissioner ML Pandjaitan visited the flooded areas.

Amran expressed concern over the natural disaster that hit Dolok Batu Nanggar sub-district.

The local authorities have set up emergency tents and a public kitchen and distributed relief aid that included rice.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on the public to stay vigilant as several regions in Indonesia are experiencing severe weather lately.

"I call on the public to stay vigilant because the weather is very extreme," Jokowi told the media on Saturday.

Severe weather has triggered strong wind, heavy rains, and high sea waves.

The Head of State has instructed his relevant officials, particularly the personnel of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and regional administrations, to anticipate the disaster and be ready to provide assistance to the public when needed.

"I have ordered the BNPB, TNI, Polri, Basarnas, concerned ministries, and regional administrations to be vigilant and help the public in case of any disaster. We have to anticipate the impacts of extreme weather, particularly on food production," he stated.

So far, there have been no reports on the weather`s impact on crop production; however, anticipation should be intensified.

"This is just December, there will be January," he said, referring to the peak of rainy season which falls in January and February.

reported by Waristo
(T.SYS/A/F001/F001)
Editor: Heru Purwanto


Floods hit Lhokseumawe and North Aceh District
Antara 3 Dec 17;

Lhokseumawe, Aceh (ANTARA News) - Floods had hit Lhokseumawe and North Aceh District in Aceh Darussalam Province, following incessant heavy rains over the past several days.

Flooding affected four villages in Blank Mangat sub-district, Lhoksemawe. The four villages were Mane Kareung, Rayeuk Kareung, Asan Kareung and Blang Punteut, Ahmad, a local villager, said here, Saturday.

In Matang Kuli, North Aceh District, floods affected more than 10 villages, such as Hagu, Alue Thoe, Lawang, Tumpok Barat, Mee, Alue Euntok, Ceubrek Pirak, Tanjong Haji Muda, Meuria, Siren, Meunye Pirak and Pante Pirak.

The flood waters reached a height of between 60 cm and 80 cm. The worst flood-affected villages were Lawang and West Tumpok located along the bank of Keureto River.

In the current rainy season, floods and landslides have affected several provinces, such as North Sumatra, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta, Riau, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on the public to stay vigilant as several regions in Indonesia are experiencing severe weather lately.

"I call on the public to stay vigilant because the weather is very extreme," Jokowi told the media on Saturday.

Severe weather has triggered strong wind, heavy rains, and high sea waves.

The Head of State has instructed his relevant officials, particularly the personnel of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and regional administrations, to anticipate the disaster and be ready to provide assistance to the public when needed.

"I have ordered the BNPB, TNI, Polri, Basarnas, concerned ministries, and regional administrations to be vigilant and help the public in case of any disaster. We have to anticipate the impacts of extreme weather, particularly on food production," he stated.

reported by Mukhlis
(T.SYS/A/F001/F001)
Editor: Heru Purwanto

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