A woman stands near a damaged house after floods at Palabuhanratu in Sukabumi Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2024. Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) announced on Wednesday that the country would face heavy rainfall during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, urging people to remain vigilant. (Photo by Iman Firmansyah/Xinhua)
JAKARTA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) announced on Wednesday that the country would face heavy rainfall during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, urging people to remain vigilant.
BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati said that extreme weather is expected as Indonesia enters the peak of the rainy season, compounded by the La Nina phenomenon.
"In December, or during Christmas and New Year, we will be at the peak of the rainy season in parts of Sumatra and Java. In some other regions, the peak may occur in January," Karnawati said during a parliamentary hearing in Jakarta.
She urged the public and relevant authorities to monitor rainfall closely, as it could impact mobility during the holiday period.
Karnawati warned that in the worst-case scenario, extreme weather might lead to severe flooding, similar to the floods that affected Jakarta and its satellite cities in 2020.
"However, we should not panic. We simply need to be prepared and understand the evacuation steps," she added. ■
People stand near a damaged house after floods at Palabuhanratu in Sukabumi Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2024. Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) announced on Wednesday that the country would face heavy rainfall during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, urging people to remain vigilant. (Photo by Iman Firmansyah/Xinhua)
A man cleans up mud in his house after flood at Curug Luhur village in Sukabumi Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2024. Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) announced on Wednesday that the country would face heavy rainfall during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, urging people to remain vigilant. (Photo by Rangga Firmansyah/Xinhua)
Children walk in a flood-hit area at Datarnangka village in Sukabumi Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2024. Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) announced on Wednesday that the country would face heavy rainfall during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, urging people to remain vigilant. (Photo by Rangga Firmansyah/Xinhua)
People clean up mud in their house after flood at Curug Luhur village in Sukabumi Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2024. Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) announced on Wednesday that the country would face heavy rainfall during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, urging people to remain vigilant. (Photo by Rangga Firmansyah/Xinhua)