JABAR EKSPRES – The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has urged people in West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, to be aware of forest and land fires as a result of two climate change phenomena, El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole (OID), which cause drought in Indonesia.
“All areas in West Manggarai have the potential for drought, so we must be aware of forest and land fires,” said Komodo Meteorological Station Head Sti Nenotek from Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, Friday.
BMKG predicts El Nino which causes reduced rainfall or drier areas to occur in the second semester of 2023.
For the West Manggarai region itself, he said, drought occurs evenly in all regions, but coastal areas will feel drier. Forest and land fires are the impact of the drought that the local community must be aware of.
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He said that several lowland areas have the potential to experience forest and land fires. Some of the lowland areas are Lembor, South Lembor, Komodo, Boleng, Macang Pacar, and parts of Sano Nggoang.
“Lowland areas are on the lookout for forest fires, if the highlands have less rainfall,” he said.
To prevent forest and land fires, his office also urged the public, especially farmers, not to clear land or open new land by burning.
According to him, drought accompanied by wind can certainly cause fires to spread to other areas.
In addition to not clearing new land by burning, Sti reminded residents to be thrifty and wise in using water.
“An appeal to local governments has been issued by the NTT Climatology Station in Kupang to be followed up by both provincial and local governments related to the El Nino phenomenon,” said Sti Nenotek.
