Cyclone Bavi threatens eastern Indonesia with strong winds and waves

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) has urged residents in eastern Indonesia to remain vigilant against potential extreme weather triggered by Tropical Cyclone Bavi, including strong winds and high ocean waves.

BMKG Acting Deputy for Meteorology Andri Ramadhani stated here on Wednesday that the cyclone will indirectly cause strong winds and high ocean waves over the next 24 hours.

"Tropical Cyclone Bavi developed from tropical cyclone seedling 95W and reached intensity of tropical cyclone on July 2, 2026,” he explained.

“And it had entered the Jakarta Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) monitoring area on July 7," he continued.

Ramadhani said the storm's vortex center was detected in the Philippine Sea, specifically north of Papua Island, and is moving consistently westward.

Based on BMKG's weather modeling analysis, the maximum wind speed around the storm’s center over the next 24 hours is forecast to remain persistent, with its intensity classified as level four.

He noted that these conditions could indirectly trigger potential strong winds across the mainland of four provinces, namely North Sulawesi, North Maluku, Southwest Papua, and West Papua, lasting at least until Wednesday (July 8) evening.

In addition to the strong winds, the agency has issued an early warning for moderate ocean waves ranging from 1.25 to 2.5 meters in the Maluku Sea, the Pacific Ocean at the north of Papua, as well as the waters surrounding the Sangihe Islands and the Talaud Islands.

Meanwhile, higher-risk waves ranging from 2.5 to 4.0 meters are forecast along the Pacific Ocean from northern Maluku to northern West Papua.

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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Uyu Liman

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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