The Jakarta Post, January 08, 2007
Ambon shipping services delayed due to strong winds
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Strong winds hitting the Maluku capital of Ambon on Sunday whipped up rough seas
and disrupted shipping services in the area.
The winds, which were followed by heavy rainfall, blew for around 45 minutes at 1:30
p.m. A number of trees were uprooted, one of them hitting a car parked at the city's
Slamet Riyadi Port.
The head of the Ambon Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, Sipollo Benny, said
the wind was not directly related to the large storm currently affecting West Australia.
"The strong wind in Ambon was just the result of unfavorable weather conditions in the
area. It has nothing to do with the storm as feared," Benny said.
Benny said the strong wind was caused by the affects of the West Australian storm,
which could hit Maluku in the next few days.
"For the next week the sea conditions in Maluku will remain unfavorable due to the
impact of the storm," he said.
The strong wind forced a number of ships traveling along the Ambon Baguala Gulf to
berth at nearby ports. The crew members chose to stay on land to prevent accidents
and no casualties were reported.
The winds also created waves reaching up to two meters high, forcing the Bahari
Express ferry between Ambon and Buru to stop operation.
The wind also hit Namlea, the capital of Buru regency.
"The wind was so strong that parts of houses were damaged," said Adam Kiat, a
Namlea resident.
West Seram Police's Adj. Sr. Comr. Didik Widjanarko said the wind had caused
strong seas but that no accidents had been reported yet.
"A number of sea transportation vessels have been asked to temporarily stop their
operations," he said.
Two ferries serving the route between Waipirit in Seram to Hunimua in Central Maluku
have also temporarily stopped operations, he added.
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