by Nurul Fitri Ramadhani

JAKARTA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sugiman, 57, took off his shirt and wrung it out. The fabric was soaked with sweat under Jakarta's blazing sun, where temperatures could reach 35 degrees Celsius, but felt closer to 40.

Despite the heat, he was beaming. His cendol ice dessert, a popular cold treat made of green rice-flour jelly, coconut milk, and palm sugar, had sold out before noon. Each day, he sets up his cart along a pedestrian road near a school in East Jakarta.

"Usually, my ice is gone by around 4 p.m., but lately I can go home before lunch because it's all sold out by 11 a.m.," he told Xinhua. "Other vendors selling ice cream and cold drinks are also running out of stock quickly."

Sugiman said he plans to increase his daily supply to meet the surging demand. "The weather is so hot now. Everyone is looking for something cold and refreshing," he said, counting the day's earnings, more than 500,000 rupiahs (around 30.13 U.S. dollars).

Indonesia, particularly Jakarta and its surrounding cities, is currently enduring a spell of extreme heat. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) attributed the phenomenon to the apparent movement of the sun south of the equator, along with the strengthening of easterly winds and the influence of the Australian monsoon, which has brought dry, warm air masses.

In parts of Central Java and East Java provinces, temperatures have even exceeded 38 degrees Celsius.

"The sun's position has caused central and southern Indonesia to receive maximum solar radiation, including most of Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara," said BMKG Deputy for Meteorology Guswanto. "The still-active Australian monsoon brings dry, warm air from the south, inhibiting cloud formation and resulting in clear skies and higher surface temperatures."

He added that prolonged clear skies intensify the heat, as the absence of clouds allows more solar radiation during the day and rapid heat loss at night, creating a wide temperature gap between day and night.

BMKG forecasts that the extreme heat is likely to persist until the end of October and early November.

While the scorching weather has boosted sales for cold drink vendors, residents like 33-year-old Deantara Whisnu have found it unbearable. Living in Bekasi, West Java, he said that even his air conditioner struggles to cool the house.

"I have to buy ice cubes every day to fill my air cooler, at least three kilograms every afternoon," he said. "The air conditioner can't handle this heat. I don't even want to go outside for fear of heatstroke."

Guswanto warned the public to stay alert to signs of dehydration, skin irritation, and heatstroke, such as fatigue and dry skin. "Migraines can occur due to excessive sun exposure or pollution," he said. "Internal heat, often worsened by consuming oily or fried foods, can also trigger high fevers that may damage vital organs if left untreated."

Erma Yulihastin, a research professor at the Center for Climate and Atmospheric Research of the National Research and Innovation Agency, told Xinhua that the ongoing heatwave reflects the growing impact of climate change in Indonesia.

"This is clear evidence of climate change, which is now occurring more frequently and more intensely each year," she said, while warning of potential sudden weather shifts, such as heavy rain and strong winds following periods of extreme heat.

The agency advised the public to limit outdoor activities and schedule exercise between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., when exposure to extreme heat is relatively lower. ■