Indonesia discusses preparations for handling impact of El Nino

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian government has discussed preparations for handling the impact of El Nino, which is estimated to peak in August–September 2023, according to Dwikorita Karnawati, the head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

El Niño is a phenomenon in which the sea surface temperature rises above normal levels in the central part of the Pacific Ocean. It can result in reduced rainfall and trigger drought in Indonesia.

The discussion on the impact of El Niño involved the president, vice president, and cabinet ministers, Karnawati informed on Tuesday.

There is a concern that El Niño will affect the availability of water and the productivity of crops, she noted.

“However, the anticipation has already been coordinated since February–April. It is ongoing, but it still needs to be strengthened,” she said.

Karnawati said that most of Indonesia’s territory has entered the dry season, which increases the risk of drought in several areas.

During the dry season, rain that can trigger wet hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods, can still occur in parts of Indonesia, a country that lies between two oceans, is crossed by the Equator, and has a mountainous topography.

“This means that not all regions will be simultaneously dry; some may experience wet hydrometeorological disasters in between,” she said.

Due to this, regional governments and citizens are urged to take steps to mitigate the impact of weather throughout the dry season.

In addition to preserving the environment, people should manage water, adapt planting patterns, and monitor the actively changing weather and climate information provided by the BMKG, she said.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, stated that the government is preparing measures to anticipate the impact of weather on food production.