Head of the Public Meteorology Center of the BMKG, Fachri Radjab, said there were several factors that triggered high rainfall in Jayapura City.
"The sea surface temperature around Papua's waters is warm enough to increase convective activity," Radjab explained in a statement received here on Friday.
In addition, there are also wind bend areas in the northern region of Papua, he said. The wind is a meridional westerly monsoon with a wet characteristic, he added.
Another factor for high rainfall in Jayapura is the wet air humidity from the surface layer to the layer of 200 mb, he explained.
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"Based on the analysis of satellite imagery, the growing clouds are dominated by convective clouds such as cumulus and cumulonimbus starting at 7 p.m.–7 a.m. local time," he added.
The Jayapura Region V MKG Center has issued early warnings, daily as well as hourly, he noted.
Since 10 p.m. local time on January 6, floods and landslides have been reported in several sub-districts of Jayapura City.
The affected sub-districts comprise North Jayapura, South Jayapura, Abepura, Heram, and Muara Tami, BMKG said.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said it is continuing to monitor and coordinate emergency response activities with the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).
According to officials, the floodwaters had reached a level of around 150–200 cm, and in the Yotefa Abepura Market area, the water level had climbed to 300 cm.
BPBD in Jayapura City also reported a landslide in North Jayapura Sub-district.
According to the BMKG weather forecast, Papua region had potential for heavy rain with lightning or thunder and strong winds on Friday. Meanwhile, the weather in Jayapura City was forecast to be sunny and cloudy from morning to night.
Jayapura City has potential for floods in the moderate to high category, the agency said. A total of three sub-districts are prone to floods, including areas currently hit by flood, it added.
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Translator: Devi Nindy S R, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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