Fewer tourists visit Karimunjawa

(thejakartapost.com) High waves and heavy storms along the north coast of Java over the last few days have decreased the number of visitors to Karimunjawa islands, about 120 kilometers north of Semarang in Central Java.

"Ferries that usually serve the route from Semarang and Jepara to Karimunjawa have been forced to stop operation. That's why the number of tourist arrivals has shrunk over the past few days," said Abdul Muin, 60, the owner of a homestay in Karimunjawa.

Abdul said under normal conditions hundreds of domestic and international tourists visited Karimunjawa every weekend.

Semarang Meteorology and Geophysics Agency reported waves in the Java Sea reached up to 2.5-3.5 meters with winds up to 30 knots.

"We warn all ferries not to sail due to the bad weather. We predict these conditions will last up to the end of January," said head of climatology at the agency, M Chaeran, on Saturday.

Abdul said the number of tourist arrivals would be back to normal in February or March as the waves returned to normal.

It was also reported that floods in Kudus, Central Java, had decreased, although they still threatened a number of districts on the north coast of Java, such as Jati, Mejobo and Kaliwungu.

The Central Java Communication and Information Agency reported the floods had inundated 1,241 houses and damaged more than 1,000 hectares of farmland in Grobogan alone.

Grobogan is one of a number of cities affected by the recent flooding caused by overflow from the Bengawan Solo River.

Spokesman of the Central Java province administration Agus Utomo said the worst-affected area was Undaan district in Kudus regency.

Central Java Governor Ali Mufiz asked the central government to help the province in overcoming flood problems by constructing reservoirs and strengthening all embankments along large rivers in Central Java.

Meanwhile, it was reported from Palu in Central Sulawesi that heavy storms damaged a tower and uprooted trees on Saturday evening, causing traffic jams in a number of locations. There were no casualties reported.

Palu Meteorology and Geophysics Agency predicted bad weather would last until the middle of January.

Tjatur Iswahyuanto of the Kupang Meteorology and Geophysics Agency warned East Nusa Tenggara residents Sunday to be careful of the bad weather.

He said high waves and heavy storms would continue for the next few days.

He also warned all ferries not to sail through Flores Sea, Banda Sea and Timor Sea due to high waves that could reach up to seven meters, while in other coastal areas the waves could reach three to four meters.

The bad weather forced ferries to cease operation and prevented fishermen from going to the sea.

Heavy rain and storms inundated 192 houses and more than 50 hectares of farmland in Kakuluk Mesak district in Belu regency. It also caused a clean water shortage throughout the region.

From North Central Timor regency it was reported the flood that swept the region had inundated 283 houses. The water level was still around 50-100 centimeters.

Ruslan Sangadji contributed to this article from Palu, Central Sulawesi.

Suherdjoko and Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Jepara, Kupang