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Coordinator for data and information for BBMKG Region I Medan, Eridawati, explains the characteristics of geo-hydrometeorological disasters at the Regional Apparatus Organization Forum held in Parapat, North Sumatra, Friday (February 11, 2022). (FOTO ANTARA/HO-BBMKG Region I Medan) - 

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said it has continued to improve technology-based weather, climate, earthquake, and tsunami early warning services.

"We hope the strengthening of technology-based weather information can convey information to the public quickly and accurately," Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Center (BBMKG) Region I Medan Darmawan said here on Friday.

During a meeting with regional apparatus organizations (OPD) of North Sumatra, he informed that the BMKG provides a general view of the conditions in North Sumatra in accordance with its duties, in collaboration with the North Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

BMKG is also currently focusing on strengthening its human resource capacity to ensure clean, clear, and qualified procurement of goods and provide quick, precise, and easily understood meteorology, climatology, and geophysics services with a high level of accuracy, he informed.

"We are ready to support North Sumatra BPBD in disaster socialization to reduce the impact and risk of geo-hydrometeorological disasters in North Sumatra through BMKG data services," he added.

Meanwhile, field coordinator of data and information for BBMKG Region I Medan, Eridawati, made a presentation on the potential for disasters in North Sumatra based on the characteristics of geo-hydrometeorological disasters in the province.

The potential for disasters in North Sumatra generally stems from extreme weather including strong winds, high waves, floods and landslides, droughts, forest fires, poor air quality, climate change, earthquakes, and tsunamis, she explained.

Reducing the risk and impact of geo-hydrometeorological disasters in North Sumatra requires coordination and synchronization among all BPBDs in North Sumatra, and in particular with the local Regional Apparatus Organization Forum, she said.

"This includes data service support and installation of meteorology, climatology, and geophysics tools such as AWS, AWOS, ARG, radar, rain gauge posts, and earthquake sensors," she added.

Meanwhile, a researcher at BBMKG Region I Medan, Marzuki Sinambela, said that the use of meteorology, climatology, and geophysics data is expected to support the performance of BPBD in North Sumatra as a working partner.

He cited the example of an earthquake in North Sumatra in 2021, which was recorded as many as 2003 times.

"The record of this incident can certainly be a lesson learned, especially in synergizing data and information among regional apparatus organization forums to strengthen the capacity of the regional apparatus in disasters in the province," he remarked//ANT