Indonesia’s Economy Was Paralyzed Because of a Solar Eclipse

Jakarta, Armfalcon.com —

Indonesia’s economic activity was once paralyzed by a phenomenon solar eclipse total (GMT) on June 11, 1983. The reason is, at that time, residents chose to stay indoors.

As reported by Second citing reports Buana News Daily, as long as the eclipse occurs, the cities that experience the natural phenomenon are like dead cities. In fact, the Minister of Information Harmoko at that time appealed to daily activities to go on as usual.

It’s just that the Soeharto government forbade the public from seeing the total eclipse directly or with the naked eye.

During the eclipse, markets in Jakarta were reportedly quiet, such as Tanah Abang Market, Jatinegara Market and Senen Market. In fact, mobile vegetable sellers are also hard to find.

Not only in the capital city, a similar scene also occurred in Semarang and Salatiga. Restaurants, cigarette stalls and public refueling stations (SPBU) are closed.

Bus terminals in various cities are also empty. During the eclipse, some train schedules were postponed. Airports across Indonesia were also closed for 30 minutes because the eclipse could disrupt flights, especially during takeoff and landing.

Thousands of fishermen in Cilacap, Central Java are also afraid to go out to sea for fear of blinding their eyes if they accidentally look directly at the eclipse.

A number of factories also closed employees working outside during the eclipse. As many as eight sugar mills in Central Java suffered losses because they had to stop operations during the milling season.

One of them, PG Cepiring in Kendal, said he lost IDR 500,000 per hour at that time because the sugar cane cutting had stopped. Around 1,300 sugarcane cutters who work outdoors are on vacation.

A solar eclipse occurs when the position of the moon is between the earth and the sun, blocking some or all of the sun’s light in the earth’s sky.

This afternoon, (Thursday 20/4), a hybrid solar eclipse is expected to occur. This phenomenon takes the form of a total solar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse, and an annular solar eclipse depending on the observation area.

Most of these eclipses can be witnessed in the eastern region of the Republic of Indonesia, and some are spread across Java and Sumatra.

A total solar eclipse will occur in several parts of eastern Indonesia between 13.00 and 14.00 WIT.

These areas are Kisar Island, Maopora Island, Damar Island, Watubela Island, Antalisa Village (Fakfak), Randepandai, Roswar, Num Island, Wooi, Serui, and Biak Kota.

Meanwhile, the areas affected by the partial solar eclipse are the areas of Yogyakarta, Jayapura and Medan.

[Gambas:Video CNN]

(sfr/sfr)

[Gambas:Video CNN]