(Usually) once there is an accident, every agency comes, (thus) this has to be coordinated; we should know, who is there, what they are going to do.
Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has devised a procedure to prevent a lack of coordination between agencies during rescue operations, especially in the waters north of Java Island.

"(Usually) once there is an accident, every agency comes, (thus) this has to be coordinated; we should know, who is there, what they are going to do," Head of Potential Dispatchment and Operation Control at Basarnas Nanang Sigit said here on Thursday.

There is a contingency plan that can be implemented by various agencies or SAR's potential team, which assists SAR's core personnel during rescue operations, he explained.

He said that the contingency plan guidelines already existed, but they needed to be updated again after several evaluations. According to him, coordinating agencies and volunteers during SAR operations is not easy.

The contingency plan evaluation reflected on the rescue operation of the Lion Air airplane that crashed in the waters of Karawang, West Java, in 2018.

"So who will be involved, will be gathered here, then they will be assigned to their respective functions, for a unified handling in case an accident happens," he explained.

Furthermore, the creation of the contingency plan guidelines was coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) to predict the weather in 2023.

"As years and weather change, there are things that have to be fixed, such as equipment," he informed.

He noted that there are certain months when high tides occur. "Because the theme is the waters of northern West Java, (we are monitoring) the maritime weather condition," he added.

Meanwhile, BMKG has advised residents in coastal areas to remain vigilant against the possibility of high tides.

Sea tide conditions are influenced by wind patterns and speeds. According to BMKG data on December 22, 2022, the highest wind speed was observed in the waters of Enggano Island, the southern waters of West Java-Central Java, the North Natuna Sea, and the waters of the Natuna Islands.

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Translator: Bagus R, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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