INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Ferry Capsizes Near Bali, Indonesia - Throwing Passengers Into The Sea; Was Carrying 51 People; Major Rescue Operation Underway! [VIDEO]

Western Embassy officials were on stand by in case any of their nationals were caught up in the disaster  

March 4, 2016 - INDONESIA - A major rescue operation is underway after a ferry carrying 51 people capsized between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java.

Dramatic footage shows the vessel rolling over in calm waters, throwing passengers into the sea, after it was believed to have sprung a leak.

It was not immediately known if tourists were aboard the vessel, but Western embassy officials were on stand by in case any were caught up in the disaster.

Rescue officials said they were confident that most people – if not all – on board had been rescued.

Many are understood to have been picked up by other vessels that were in the vicinity.

The footage shows the ferry on its side after capsizing in calm waters in Bali Strait

But amid confusing reports, it was suggested that up to 10 people were missing including two crew members.

It was not known if anyone had been trapped inside.

'This will not be known until we can send divers down to check the ship,' said Lieut-Col Wahyu Endriawan head of the local naval base.

Rescuers now face the prospect of searching for survivors in the dark.

Added to the confusion was uncertainty as to just how many people were on board the vessel, named the Rafelia II.

Many of those rescued had suffered injuries jumping or falling into the sea, said local media.

The ferry that runs between Gilimanuk port in north west Bali and Banyuwangi on the eastern tip of the main Indonesian island of Java carries both cars and passengers.

The ship was en route from Gilimanuk port in Bali to Banyawangi on Java when it capsized in the Bali Strait

While it is not a route popular with tourists, the ferry is sometimes used by adventurous backpackers island-hopping across the Indonesian archipelago.

Bali is particularly popular among Western tourists at this time of the year, now that most of the severe mid-summer storms have passed.

Over the years, hundreds of people have died in ferry disasters in Indonesia, which has a poor reputation for travellers on land, sea and in the air.

Ferries are often poorly maintained and frequently sail when they are overloaded. - Daily Mail.



WATCH: Dramatic footage - Ferry sinking caught on cam, people jump off deck.

WEATHER PHENOMENON: Signs In The Heavens - Amazing Sun Halo Seen In The Skies Over Bali, Indonesia!

This amazing sun halo appeared over Bali, Indonesia on November 14 2015.  © Shea D.

November 21, 2015 - BALI, INDONESIA - These incredible pictures were sent to Strange Sounds by Shea D., a follower of the blog.

This amazing sun halo appeared in the sky of Bali on November 14, 2015. Another sign for new extreme weather events to come?

Do you see the crossed rays coming from the sun?  © Shea D.

Here another shot of this extremely rare circumzenithal arc, also called a smile in the sky.  © Shea D.

Like some energy geysers flying out of the sun.   © Shea D.

Sometimes, rings around the moon or the sun may announce rain or a tropical storm coming soon as halos form through ice crystals which are usually present in high altitude cirrus clouds.

And these clouds arrive days before an advancing cold or warm front, which bring rain. It is to keep in mind that not all cirrus clouds are associated with storm systems.

Therefore most of the rings indicate an increase in water in the upper atmosphere. - Strange Sounds.

 

PLANETARY TREMORS: Weather Anomalies - Rare Earthquake Shakes Kalimantan, Indonesia?!

© News Asia One

February 26, 2015 - KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA - Kalimantan is among the regions in the archipelago known to be free of earthquakes, but a recent series of light to strong quakes recorded in North Kalimantan have shaken that belief.

The latest quake was one recorded measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale that hit Tarakan on Tarakan Island in North Kalimantan at 9.31 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Balikpapan station head Mudjianto said the earthquake's epicenter was located in the Sulu Sea, which was closer to cities in the Malaysian state of Sabah, such as Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Lahat Datu, Tawau and Beaufort.

Cities in Indonesia that were close to the quake's epicenter were Tarakan on Tarakan Island and Tideng Pale in the Tana Tidung regency, located 432 kilometers away, and Nunukan in the Nunukan regency, located at the border with Sabah and across from Tawau, located 416 km from the epicenter.

"We did not calculate the quake's duration given the distance," said Mudjianto. He added that the duration could only have been recorded had the tremor reached human settlements or human structures. The magnitude of this quake was recorded by sensors owned by BMKG and was not felt on the sea, or on land in Kalimantan, or on the surrounding islands.

"So, it's not correct to say Tarakan city was jolted by the quake because it was not too pronounced," said Mudjianto.

The tremor was most likely caused by movement of the southwest-northeast lying fault line traversing the Sulu Sea between Borneo Island and the Philippine archipelago.

The BMKG Balikpapan station recorded a number of quakes in the same region. Earlier, a quake took place on Jan. 20 with its epicenter also in the Sulu Sea at a depth of 10,000 meters, 287 km northeast of Tarakan. However, the 5.6-magnitude quake was not felt in Tarakan.

An earthquake also took place on Nov. 9, 2014. Seven aftershocks with magnitudes of between 4.1 and 6.5 on the Richter scale were recorded.

Separately, the head of the Earthquake and Soil Movement Mitigation Division at the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center, Gede Swantika, said Borneo's northern region was more prone to quakes than other regions on the world's third largest island.

"The region is included in the area where the Eurasian and Pacific faults meet. There is also a micro fault that we call the Carolina fault," Swantika said in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday.

He added the movement of the earth's crust, which triggered the quake, was the result of the active Eurasian and Pacific fault movement, so the northern part of Borneo was more prone to quakes than other regions.

He said the increase in the height of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, was part of the active fault movements. The mountain, located north of Kalimantan, has increased in height by around 64 millimeters annually.

"This is attributed to active fault movements," said Swastika, adding it does not preclude the chances of landslides occurring, especially in sloped areas.

He added Borneo was a region with rock formations considered ancient compared to other islands in Indonesia. Rock formations in Kalimantan may be of the same age as those on Papua Island.

Kalimantan has been said to be among the three regions, the others being Belitung and Riau, that are quake free and has been considered suitable for the development of nuclear energy as it is relatively safe from the threat of natural disasters.

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because of its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

Because of their proximity to the ring of fire, regions like Sumatra, Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Banda and Maluku are considered tsunami, volcano and earthquake prone zones.  - Asia One.

DELUGE: Heavy Rainfall, Widespread Flooding And Landslides Hit Indonesia - At Least 2 People Dead And Over 5,000 Homes Damaged!

A girl rides her bike through a flooded street in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, on Saturday, following heavy rain in the capital and surrounding areas. 
© JP/Jerry Adiguna

February 2, 2015 - INDONESIA - Heavy rainfall across Indonesia has caused flooding and landslides, resulting in the death of at least 2 people and damage to over 5,000 homes.

Bali

Floods and landslides killed two people in Karangasem district, Karangasem, Bali on 31 January 2015. Two others were injured in the landslide which occurred after heavy rainfall in the region.

West Nusa Tenggara

Floods have damaged at least 4,000 houses in the Dompu and Woja districts, West Nusa Tenggara.

The Jakarta Post said:

The flood inundated between 4,000 and 5,000 houses in the area. Some houses located on riverbanks encountered floodwaters 4 meters deep, nearly submerging them.

The overflowing Laju, Silo, Soa, Raba Baka and Toi rivers were blamed for the flood in Dompu.

East Java

Major flooding has hit a number of villages in Bojonegoro, East Java, over the last several days due to overflow from nearby rivers, including Mekuris and Pancal. Some areas are said to be under 80 cm of water. Around 50 houses and a health centre have been damaged by the floods in Gondang.

Around 7,000 people in Nganjuk regency have been cut off after floods caused a bridge in Sawahan district to collapse.

South and Central Kalimantan

Heavy rain forced the Benawa and Barabai rivers to overflow in South Kalimantan, flooding parts of Batu Benawa and Barabai districts.

WMO report that 109 mm of rain fell in 24 hours to 02 February 2015 in Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan.

Jakarta

Several areas of Jakarta are again underwater after 2 days of heavy rain across the capital. Kampung Pulo in East Jakarta and Duri Kosambi in West Jakarta and Petogogan, Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta are said to be worst hit.

WMO report that 104 mm of rain fell over a 24 hour period to 02 February 2015 in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta.

Further Heavy Rainfall

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned there could be worse to come as the peak of the rainy season is set to hit.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) called on people to exercise caution during the current spate of severe weather.

Provinces with high potential for heavy downpours over the next three days include West Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Central Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua. - Floodlist.

PLANETARY TREMORS: Powerful 6.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northeast Of Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island!

June 13, 2013 - INDONESIA - A powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake has just hit south of Java, Indonesia. The tremor struck 170km northeast of Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island - a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean.

USGS earthquake location.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the earthquake hit at 16:47:23 UTC, at 10.030°S 107.182°E, with a depth of 11.1km (6.9 miles).

No tsunami warning was issued.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, an official said.


According to initial reports, the tremor was felt in Kawalu, Sumatra, Singaparna, Java and Bali and other remote parts of southern Indonesia. Setiabudi, Kuningan, a resident of Jakarta, said that the, "Lamp swayed, I thought I had a headache but things were shaking for way too long for a headache."

Another resident in Banjar, indicated that the shaking lasted for 5 to 10 seconds.

USGS earthquake shakemap intensity.

"The floor and the chair I was sitting on began to move. It lasted 5 - 10 seconds I am not sure. I got up to see what was happening and the floor was moving below my feet. I saw the shutters shaking. I thought it must be an earthquake and then everything just stopped and it was calm once again," said a resident of Borobodur.

The Indonesian-Australian area is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

STORM ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Narelle Forecast To Strike Australia As An Intense Storm System On January 13th! UPDATE: Narelle Batters Bali With Strong Winds!

January 10, 2013 - AUSTRALIA - Tropical cyclone Narelle is forecast to strike Australia as an intense tropical cyclone at about 16:00 GMT on 13 January.Data supplied by the US Navy and Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center suggest that the point of landfall will be near25.7 S,112.1 E. Narelle is expected to bring 1-minute maximum sustained winds to the region of around 185 km/h (114 mph).Wind gusts in the area may be considerably higher.

According to the Saffir-Simpson damage scale the potential property damage and flooding from a storm of Narelle's strength (category 3)at landfall includes:

• Storm surge generally 2.7-3.7 metres (9-12 feet) above normal.
• Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain wall failures.
• Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down.
• Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed.
• Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the centre of the storm.
• Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris.
• Terrain continuously lower than 1.5 metres (5 feet) above mean sea level may be flooded inland 13 km (8 miles) or more.
• Evacuation of low-lying residences within several blocks of the shoreline may be required.

There is also the potential for flooding further inland due to heavy rain.

The information above is provided for guidance only and should not be used to make life or death decisions or decisions relating to property. Anyone in the region who is concerned for their personal safety or property should contact their official national weather agency or warning centre for advice.
This alert is provided by Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) which is sponsored by Aon Benfield, Crawford & Company and University College London (UCL). - AlertNet.


WATCH: Cyclone Narelle Pushes Towards Australia.

UPDATE: Narelle Batters Bali With Strong Winds!

Strong winds and high waves, the result of the Narelle tropical cyclone, have affected many areas across Bali as, causing the island's ferry ports in Gilimanuk and Padang Bai to stop operations yesterday. Strong winds have also caused severe damage to public facilities, as well as houses and trees in Gianyar, Denpasar, Badung, Tabanan and Bangli. The head of Bali Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency predicted that the tropical cyclone would now head toward Western Australia. The Narelle tropical cyclone is the eighth tropical cyclone to form during this cyclone season in the southern Indian Ocean. In Indonesia, the cyclone is centered south of Bali’s closest neighbor, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), with winds of up to 40 kilometers per hour. In Selemadeg village in Tabanan regency, a woman reportedly died after a large tree fell on her. Trees have also damaged a temple, family homes and other buildings in Denpasar. “This is a normal situation for the period between January and February when tropical cyclones frequently occur in the Indian Ocean affecting weather conditions all over Indonesia."

They warned people who live in the coastal areas of the southern part of Bali to remain vigilant. “The waves may reach up to 5 meters high, endangering fisherman and those who want to take water transportation." Tourists who planned to take part in water sports, such as diving, surfing and snorkeling, must be very careful due to the heavy rains, strong winds and high waves. Due to the rough sea, Gilimanuk ferry port in Jembrana (connecting Java and Bali) and Padang Bai ferry port in Karangasem (connecting Bali and NTB) have had to be closed temporarily. Three traditional fishing and crossing ports in Klungkung regency were also closed, forcing hundreds of residents to wait for transport for hours. Local fishermen also stayed home over the last few days because of the high waves. People living on the remote islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan in Klungkung regency have been isolated as there were no vessels heading to the islets to bring basic food and supplies to the local residents. The peak wet season in Bali will arrive in the middle of January and would intensify in February. “People must be on alert for the possible strong winds, torrential rains and rough seas during this season." - The Jakarta Post.

MASS BIRD DIE-OFF: Bird Flu Wipes Out Hundreds Of Ducks In Bali, Indonesia!

January 05, 2013 - INDONESIA - Hundreds of ducks in Takmung village, Klungkung regency, Bali, have died suddenly, with avian flu suspected as the cause.

I Wayan Sudia, a duck breeder in Takmung village, said he had lost hundreds of his ducks.

“Laboratory reports show my ducks were infected by bird flu,” I Wayan Sudia told reporters on Thursday as reported by Antara news agency. “The symptoms included cloudy eyes and seizures,” he added.

Two months ago, Sudia bought 500 ducks in Tabanan regency, about 200 of which have died in the past few days.

Disinfectants have been distributed to breeders in the village for free to prevent the flu from spreading. - The Jakarta Post.

EXTREME WEATHER: Cyclone Iggy Kills 14 in Indonesia - 60 Injured, 2,000 Homes Damaged in 35 Different Towns or Cities!

Fourteen people were killed and another 60 were injured in Indonesia over a four-day period as a result of Cyclone Iggy, according to the country's National Disaster Management Agency.

Most of those who died were struck by falling trees or debris from strong winds, said agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. More than 2,000 homes were also damaged in 35 towns or cities in Java and Bali between Wednesday and Sunday, he said.

The government has provided food and aid to the areas affected, the agency said.

As of Sunday, Iggy was off the northwestern coast of Australia, said Tom Sater, meteorologist for CNN International.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a cyclone warning for the coastal area from Onslow to Coral Bay, including Exmouth. Iggy is currently classified as a Category 1 cyclone and is near stationary, according to the warning.

Iggy is forecast to stay offshore and avoid the coast of Western Australia, said Sater. The effects of Iggy, however, may create high sea conditions, he said.

In anticipation of the storm, Australia has shut down some of its coastal oil operations, according to Sater.

Iggy is "expected to continue to move very slowly overnight before taking a more southwesterly track during Monday," the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said in a Sunday advisory. - CNN.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Mass Evacuations Near Indonesia's Lewotolo Volcano - Alert Level Raised as Volcanic Activity Increases!

Hundreds of people living near a volcano in the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara were evacuated on Thursday because of increased volcanic activity, the Antara news agency reported.

About 500 people residing near Mount Lewotolok in Lembata district abandoned their homes amid the volcano's mounting activity. "Most of them left for the nearest city, Lewoleba," said Lembata Deputy District Chief Viktor Mado Watun, as quoted by Antara. "All related government officials will soon hold a coordination meeting to deal with the latest situation."

"Black smoke columns are coming out of the mountain's crater, the air is filled with the smell of sulfur while rumbling sounds are heard around the mountain," he added.

Residents decided to leave due to the increasing activity of Mount Lewotolok over the past few days, even though the government has not yet announced an evacuation plan. Viktor said ten villages are likely to be affected and suffer material losses if the volcano erupts.

On January 2, the country's Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) raised the alert level at the volcano to level 3. The center uses a warning system with four levels of alerts, with level 1 being the lowest and level 4 being the highest.

Dozens of active volcanoes in Indonesia are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

One of Indonesia's most active volcanoes is Mount Merapi, which is located on the island of Java near Jogjakarta, the country's second-most visited area after Bali. In 2010, more than 300 people were killed in a series of eruptions between October and November which also displaced over 300,000 people. - Channel 6 News.

PLANETARY TREMORS: 6.1 Quake Hits South of Bali, Indonesia!

Map of the 6.1 magnitude earthquake.

According to the Real Time Seismicity of the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake has struck South of Bali, Indonesia at a depth of 61.3 km (38.1 miles). The quake hit at 03:16:32 UTC, Thursday 13th October 2011 and was located at 9.359°S, 114.647°E. The epicentre was 100 km ( 62 miles) southwest of Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia; 168 km (104 miles) southeast of Jember, Java, Indonesia; 182 km (113 miles) southwest of Mataram, Lombok, Indonesia; and 931 km (578 miles) southeast of Jakarta, Java, Indonesia. No tsunami warning was issued and there are no reports of any damage at this time.

Seismicity of the region.

A powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia's popular resort island of Bali on Thursday, sending people fleeing from their homes and hotels in panic. No tsunami alert was issued, and there were no immediate reports of injuries. The walls of some temples along the coast crumbled and witnesses told local radio and television stations they saw some houses with collapsed roofs. The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.0-magnitude quake was centered 60 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of the island. It hit 36 miles (60 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor. "It knocked me off my motorcycle," said one resident, Miftahul Chusna. Candy Juliani, a public relations officer for the Sanur Beach Hotel, said everything in the building was shaking. "The guests ran from their rooms in panic," she said. "We have special emergency routes for this type of situation but everyone was so scared, they just ignored them." Others reported seeing cracks in the walls of their offices or homes. Indonesia straddles a series of fault lines that makes the vast island nation prone to volcanic and seismic activity. A giant quake off the country on Dec. 26, 2004, triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed 230,000 people, half of them in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh. - ABC.

MASS ANIMAL DIE-OFF: Thousands of Fish as Bali's Lake Batur?!

An unusual natural phenomenon is causing concern for communities living around the edge of Bali’s Lake Batur at Kintamani. On Sunday, June 19, 2011, the waters of the lake that sits in a volcanic crater suddenly changed colors to a whitish-blue shade followed by the sudden death of thousands of fish (tilapia) living in the lake.

According to NusaBali, villagers for the lakeside community of Lintang Danu recount that the lake suddenly changed color on Sunday (June 19) morning in the areas surrounding the villages of Songan. Batur, Kedisan and Buahan. Shortly after the color change, thousands of freshwater fish floated to the surface and begin washing up on the lake’s shore. Fish farmed by villages in the shallows of the lake also died with the changing color of the lake. Local fisherman, who traditionally plant local freshwater majiar fish (tilapia) in the lake, scrambled to the location to rescue fish in distress but still alive to place them in fresh water pools ashore. The head of the Wildlife and Fisheries Service for the regency of Bangli, A.A. Ngurah Shamba, said his office was still surveying the situation and trying to understand the natural phenomenon that change the water color and caused the fish die-off. Samples of dead fish have been collected for laboratory analysis. Local villagers are blaming the situation on an underwater explosion of the volcano concealed by the crater lake.

A village chief from the local community of Buahan, I Made Antara, was less certain on the cause of the phenomenon, saying the die-off might be due to a an underwater explosion, a fluctuation in water temperature, a current of acidic water or an unusual particle introduced naturally to the water. Another villager form Songan, also on the lake’s edge, said this is not the first time such an occurrence has taken place. Jro Saba said a similar phenomenon occurred about 3 years ago, but at that time the change in water color was less pronounced that is now the case. Said Saba: “I suspect that there was an explosion in the center of the lake that released sulphur that killed the fish.” He estimates the losses suffered by local fish farmers is in the billions of rupiah. - Bali Discovery.