New Year's Revelers Warned Against Safety Negligence
This New Year's Eve will be celebrated amid looming extreme weather while the Covid-19 pandemic has yet to clear completely. Safety must be a priority, especially when the celebrations reach their peak.
By
Kompas Team
·4 minutes read
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
In rainy weather, visitors are still enthusiastic about seeing elephants at the Ragunan Zoo, South Jakarta, Wednesday (28/12/2022).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — With the moment around the turn of the year on 31 Dec. attracting a crowd and extreme weather being predicted to be a potential threat in several parts of Indonesia, citizens have been reminded to take vigilance.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asked all people to heed the information released by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
"Follow all the information and everything conveyed by the BMKG. That’s it," President Jokowi said when asked about the government’s efforts to mitigate hydrometeorological disasters at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (28/12/2022).
BMKG observations on Wednesday showed that rain with light to moderate intensity occurred around Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.
BMKG deputy for meteorology Guswanto appealed to the public to remain restrained and continue to seek up-to-date information through the BMKG's official channels. He also asked the public to be aware of any potential hydrometeorological disasters at the end of the year.
A large number of people are expected to crowd public spaces and tourist spots for the year-end holiday.
Zulkifli Djunaidi, a lecturer in the Department of Occupational Health and Safety at the School of Public Health, noted that the enforcement of security and safety protocols and the provision of supporting facilities would be crucial.
He lamented that those aspects were often ignored by the organizers.
"The central government and regional governments do not yet have strict regulations regarding compliance with safety standards for an event or tourist spots," he said.
Disaster vigilance
Zulkifli also deplored tourist spot administrators and event organizers’ negligence about the provision of hazard warning signs and evacuation routes crucial in the event of a disaster. The situation has raised concerns in the build-up to New Year’s Eve with public places set to attract many people.
Didi Satiadi, an associate researcher on climate and atmosphere at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), warned about the impact of extreme weather, especially amid poor environmental conditions.
ISMAIL ZAKARIA
A number of buildings were damaged at Mapak Indah Beach, Mapak Indah Neighborhood, Jempong Baru Village, Sekarbela District, Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara due to extreme weather in the form of heavy rains, strong winds and tidal waves that hit the area Friday (23/12/2022).
He said such weather might have little effect in a relatively good environment, but "if it occurs in a place with very bad environmental conditions, it has the potential to cause a disaster," said Didi in an online discussion on extreme weather precautions on Wednesday.
In Surabaya, East Java, Mayor Eri Cahyadi issued a circular regarding the measures that should be taken ahead of and during Christmas and New Year 2023 celebrations. The circular bans convoys during New Year's eve.
if it occurs in a place with very bad environmental conditions, it has the potential to cause a disaster.
Citing the need to promote security and peace in the city on New Year's Eve, the circular also imposes restricted operational hours on entertainment venues.
The city hall has instructed the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) to monitor the implementation of the mayoral measures. "If the RHU [public recreation and entertainment centers] violate them, they will be closed for a week. The sanction is closure," Eri said.
Traffic compliance
Meanwhile, the National Police have appealed for public compliance with traffic rules, given the fact that most traffic accidents have resulted from motorists’ infringement of traffic rules.
Police spokesperson Comr. Gen. Saptono Enggar Waskitoroso said during this year’s traffic security operation coded Operasi Lilin (Operation Candle) that there had been 409 accidents with 40 people dead, 43 seriously injured and 320 slightly injured as of 26 Dec. In comparison, during Operation Lilin 2021, the number of traffic accidents for the period from 24 Dec., 2021, to 2 Jan., 2022, reached 772, which was an increase from 529 accidents in 2020.
Ahmad Wildan, a senior investigator for the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT), urged drivers to be vigilant for extreme whether while on the road.
"We are, at the moment, focusing on [the possibility of] extreme weather, such as high rainfall and strong winds. Motorists need to be aware of the potential water overflow onto the roads due to heavy rains and high water discharge, especially with sludge, which can get vehicles drifting along," he said.
Wildan warned motorists to be aware in the event of low visibility due to rains. They were also told to be vigilant about lightning, which could strike motorcycles or cars.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people who had been trapped in Karimunjawa, Jepara, due to high waves arrived at Tanjung Emas seaport in Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday. They were transported on the Kelimutu motor boat, operated by state-owned sea transportation operator Pelni.
