"The increase in the height of sea waves is influenced by the speed of the wind blowing over the Indonesian waters," Head of the Class IV Maritime Meteorological Station in Ambon, Ashar, stated in Ambon on Saturday.
Ashar noted that winds in the northern part of Indonesia mostly shifted direction from the North to Northeast, and the speeds ranged from five to 20 knots. As for the southern part of Indonesia, the wind movement was predominantly from the West to North, with wind speeds capped at five to 30 knots.
The fastest wind speeds were recorded in the Malacca Strait, Flores Sea, Sermata Islands waters, Babar Islands waters, Banda Sea, and Arafuru Sea. Warning had been issued for waves reaching heights of 1.25 to 1.50 meters most likely in the Seram Sea, Buru waters, Ambon and Lease islands waters, southern Seram waters, Kei Islands waters, and Aru.
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Moreover, 2.5-meter-high waves were forecast to arise in the Banda Sea, Sermata-Leti waters, Babar waters, Tanimbar, and the central part of Arafuru Sea. The agency has urged the public to be heedful and alert to such phenomena, as they posed a high risk to shipping activities.
The weather posed a risk to fishermen aboard boats if the wind speeds exceeded 15 knots and the wave height was over 1.25 meters. Barges were at risk if the wind speeds reached 16 knots and waves reached a height of 1.5 meters.
Ferry ships are at risk if the wind speed exceeded 21 knots, and wave height reached above 2.5 meters. Large-sized ships, such as cargo and cruise ships, are at risk if the wind speed exceeded 27 knots and wave height crossed four meters.
Ashar cautioned people living and working in coastal areas to stay alert and vigilant.
Fatalities and accidents in seas had occurred frequently as of late in Southeast Maluku District's waters and Aru Islands due to the high waves in Maluku since mid-February.
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Translator: Penina F M, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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