Indonesia Enters Strong El Niño Phase, Heightening Drought and Wildfire Concerns

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has confirmed that Indonesia has entered a strong El Niño phenomenon. Teuku Faisal Fathani, the head of BMKG, explained that El Niño occurs when sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean rise by 0.5 degrees, stating that the current condition falls under the "strong El Niño" category. El Niño can lead to reduced rainfall in Indonesia due to rising Pacific sea surface temperatures. This raises concerns about intensifying drought and increasing the risk of forest and peatland fires (FOPH). BMKG is focusing its response to this El Niño phenomenon on two main pillars: ensuring water availability through reservoirs (waduk) and implementing measures to prevent forest and peatland fires. Six provinces have been identified as high-risk areas: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. In these regions, efforts are underway to increase water supply to reservoirs through weather modification and to keep flammable land moist. Across Indonesia, there are 240 reservoirs that will be utilized for hydropower, irrigation, and the supply of clean water. Last Tuesday, President Prabowo Subianto held an urgent meeting with relevant ministers to discuss preparedness for El Niño and the onset of the dry season. The meeting was attended by the BMKG head, the Minister of Environment and Forestry, the Deputy Chief of the National Police, and the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency, among others. The El Niño phenomenon has the potential to cause widespread impacts on Indonesia's agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems, prompting the government to heighten its vigilance. Source: CNN Indonesia