Aripatul Hadiyanti, weather analyst of Serang-based meteorology, climatology, and geophysics agency, said here Saturday that the coastal areas of southern Banten would be hit by big waves.
The height of the sea waves in the southern Banten waters was expected to reach 2.5 and 3.5 meters while the speed of wind blows could be 36 kilometers or 18 knots an hour, he said.
connection with this extreme weather, local fishermen and those visiting such beaches as Carita, Tanjung Lesung, Panimbang, Sumur, and Ujungkulon need to be careful, he said.
"We urge them to remain careful with any accidents at sea," he said.
In anticipating any unexpected eventuality, Head of Carita beach`s lifeguard service, Enjat, said he had deployed his men to various beaches that tourists frequently visited.
"We send at least ten lifeguards to every beach to help visitors during the extreme weather," he said.
In Ciamis district, West Java province, a holidaymaker from Bandung district had even died of drowning at Pangandaran beach.
The accident occurred at about 09.30 AM local time when Kurnia bin Ateng, 27, was swimming near the beach but the sea`s strong currents suddenly carried him away, said Dudi, the beach`s lifeguard.
Dudi warned the Pangandaran beach`s visitors of not taking unncessary risks by swimming within the red flag area because the sea`s strong currents could harm them.
Over the past year, Indonesia has been undergoing an extreme weather phenomenon, which partly characterizes with heavy rains and whirlwinds.
As the consequences of the torrential rains and whirlwinds, various vulnerable parts of the country have experienced flash floods and landslides.
(Uu.R013/P003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
