BMKG Warning: Drought Threatens Jakarta, Banten
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22 August 2019 19:05 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Climatology and Geophysics Meteorology Agency (BMKG) issued an early warning of drought that would occur in the Banten and Jakarta. This is an impact of the dry season that has arrived in the two provinces since last month.
"The day-to-day data update until August 20 showed that most of Jakarta and Banten have experienced dry days for 20 to 60 days," South Tangerang Climatology Station chief Sukasno said in a written statement Tempo received on Thursday, August 22.
Sukasno said that rainfall in Jakarta and Banten is at a very low rate of around 20 mm for ten days in a row. Based on this low rate, and early warning of drought can be issued.
As a result of the drought, Jakarta and Banten's groundwater availability will decline, causing a lack of clean water. The dry season is also expected to worsen air pollution in Jakarta.
"It will also have an impact on rainfed farms agricultural in Banten and Jakarta," Sukasno said.
All of Jakarta, except for the Thousand Islands, are estimated to experience drought. In Banten, areas expected to experience it are Lebak, Pandeglang, Serang, and Tangerang.
The BMKG predicts that the drought will last until the end of September 2019.
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