PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that rain with moderate to high intensity will fall until Eid. Therefore, travelers are advised to remain careful and alert while traveling.

This was said by the Head of West Java Climatology Station BMKG Rakhmat Prasetia in the West Java BPBD Webinar Series 2 on Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness during the 2024 Eid Homecoming and Returning Period, Wednesday (3/4/2024).

"From our monitoring, until April 9, there will still be rain with moderate to high intensity," he said.

"Every 2 hours we update and we inform the results to the relevant agencies in West Java as material for policy making in the field, especially during the Eid homecoming season," he added.

Chief Executive of the West Java BPBD Dani Ramdan, in his speech, said that the West Java BPBD had alerted everything during the Eid homecoming period related to potential disasters.

"Among the things we have prepared is a collaboration post which is a combination of several agencies in improving services for homecoming travelers. In this post, apart from basic services such as rest areas, health services, we also educate the public about disaster awareness. The Collaboration Post concept that we have initiated has now been adopted by the nation," said Dani.

According to Dani, West Java is a disaster-prone area. From January to March 2024, there have been 398 disasters. Meanwhile, in 2023, disasters in West Java will be recorded at 2,049 disasters.

"Most of the hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods, flash floods, wet landslides, etc.," said Dani.

Meanwhile, Head of the West Java BPBD Prevention and Preparedness Division, Edy Haryadi, explained that Collaboration Posts for Eid 2024 were established at 78 points throughout West Java.

"27 points are the main posts in each district/city BPBD office and 51 posts are placed on homecoming routes throughout West Java," said Edy.

According to Edy, post officers are required to update weather forecasts, study evacuation routes, check vehicle conditions and be alert at tourist attractions.

In the webinar, West Java Transportation Agency policy analyst Neiza Yuliansah explained that the trend of homecoming travelers from year to year always increases.

"West Java is the largest recipient of homecoming travelers in Indonesia, namely 32 percent of the total national homecoming, mostly to the Garut, Bandung and other areas. These areas will be the focus of regulation later," explained Neiza.

Apart from that, according to Neiza, the posts will also be placed at 127 points throughout West Java, including district/city Transportation Agency posts. There are also 12 joint posts at toll rest areas and non-toll arterial routes.

"To reduce congestion, the Transportation Agency has also mapped alternative routes from congestion points. Only certain alternative routes such as the Central-South West Java vertical route should be used during the day, because the terrain and road marking facilities are not yet complete," he said. (Even)