Many areas of Indonesia predicted to be hit by flood
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Xinhua, January 13, 2012
Indonesia's Environment Ministry predicted that floods would affect most parts of Java Sumatra, East and South Kalimantan islands in the coming months, the Jakarta Post reported here on Friday.
"Accumulated heavy rainfall and strong winds blowing on to Java island will trigger the flooding," Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya said.
Citing data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Kambuaya said that precipitation would be high in most parts of the archipelago.
Heavy rain is forecast until the end of February, during which precipitation is expected to reach 500 millimeters, and will subside in March when it will reach 300 millimeters at the most. The wet season is expected to last until June.
Kambuaya said that heavy rainfall would not be the only factor causing flooding.
"Environmental damage from a decline in soil cover and absorption areas also causes floods," he said.
The ministry predicted that although this season's floods would be as severe as those of 2002 and 2006, they would be less destructive because some local governments had made the necessary preparations.
"We expect that the floods will not cause serious damage, particularly in Jakarta, because the government and relevant ministries have conducted measures such as building canals and expanding drainage basins," he said.
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