Kupang Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) spokesman Purwanto said here on Saturday although the cyclone would not last long, the people of NTT, especially those on the islands of Sabu, Sumba, and Timor had been warned to remain on guard because they were feared to bear the brunt of its impact.
Purwanto said cyclone Vince would trigger rainfall intensity from mild to moderate, strong with with the speed of 40 km/hour with a potential to create whirlwind, and 4 to 6-meter high waves in East Nusa Tenggara waters.
"Whirlwind and landslides have hit a number of areas such as Oepura and Merdeka villages in Kupang where tens of houses were destroyed," Purwanto said.
In addition, he said 50 houses at Waioti village in Sikka district were inundated by sea water because of around 6-meter tidal waves on Wednesday, January 12, 2011.
Meanwhile, Sikka district disaster management spokesman Zakarias Heriando Siku said of the 50 inundated by the sea water, two were swept away by the tidal waves.(*)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
