Rip Current Danger, IPB University Lecturer Reminds Tourists to Be Vigilant
IPB University lecturer from the Department of Marine Science and Technology (ITK), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science (FPIK), Dr I Wayan Nurjaya emphasized the importance of tourist awareness of the dangers generated by rip currents.
Rip current is a strong current that flows away from the shore. Rip currents arise due to higher pressure on the coast due to higher sea level than the surroundings.
“Rip currents can quickly drag swimmers or anyone who is in the place where the current occurs and drain it into the middle of the sea,” explained Dr Wayan, an IPB University expert in the field of marine science.
He further explained that this current generally has a width of less than 9,1 meters and a speed of up to 2,4 meters per second. It is almost 2,5 times stronger than the Kuroshio or Gulfstream currents which have a speed of ~1 meter per second.
“This tidal current is generally formed around breaking waves, especially on beaches with sandbars or at the boundary or near jetties,” he said.
He continued, tidal currents are formed partly from wave interactions when entering the beach around the location of the breaking wave. “This means that waves approach the beach and break causing water to accumulate between the waves that break on the beach,” he said.
Based on statistical data, the incidence of deaths due to rip currents is quite high, both in America and Asia, including Indonesia. In Indonesia, this incident occurs mostly in beach tourism areas such as Palabuhanratu, Parangtritis, and Bali.
He urged tourists to always swim in areas supervised by lifeguards. In addition, it is necessary to recognize danger signs due to rip currents, such as changes in water color or obvious gaps in breaking waves.
This risk, Dr Wayan continued, can be reduced by creating a rip current hazard map. Steps that can be taken include mapping the location of the rip currents, installing signs, preparing and improving the skills and knowledge of coast guards, and educating visitors before going to the sea.
Based on several experiences, he provides a number of measures that can be taken if caught in a rip current. “Stay calm and don’t fight the current. Swim parallel to the shore until you get out of the way of the current,” he explains.
“If you can’t escape, float on your back to save energy while signaling for help,” he added.
Previously, a group of students from SMPN 7 Mojokerto who were traveling at Drini Beach, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta Special Region, suffered a disaster. A total of 13 students were reportedly swept away by the sea current, with four of them dying after being trapped in the current. (dr) (IAAS/RUM)
