Experts warned of the increasing risk of contagious disease outbreaks and other health problems in Indonesia as the El Niño climate phenomenon emerges in the tropical Pacific for the first time in seven years.

El Niño, marked by an increase in surface water temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, is linked to extreme weather conditions from tropical cyclones and heavy rainfall to severe droughts.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecasts that the phenomenon will peak from this month until September in Indonesia, with most regions expected to face a longer and more severe dry season compared to the previous three years. The BMKG has said that the country should prepare for potential droughts, hot spots and wildfires due to hotter weather and lower precipitation.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Nina A. Loasana (The Jakarta Post)

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