Jakarta,
Dec 31, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia was battered by 2,342 natural disasters in
2016, the highest in the past 14 years, making it one of the most
violent years in recent memory.
According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB),
the number of natural disasters increased by 35 percent during 2016 from
1,732 in the previous year, with flooding, landslides and whirlwinds
still dominating.
As
many as 522 people were killed, and some three million others were
affected or displaced in the disasters, which also damaged at least 70
thousand houses. The nation lost tens of trillions of rupiahs due to the
catastrophes.
Ninety-two percent of the natural disasters that hit Indonesia during the year were hydro-meteorological in nature -- floods, landslides, and whirlwinds.
Ninety-two percent of the natural disasters that hit Indonesia during the year were hydro-meteorological in nature -- floods, landslides, and whirlwinds.
The country was stricken by 766 floods (up 52 percent from 2015), 612
landslides (up 19 percent), and 669 whirlwinds (up 15 percent).
Flooding
claimed 147 lives and affected 2.72 million people. Landslides killed
188 people, an increase from 135 in 2015.
"Natural
disasters have caused a lot of suffering, mostly among the poor,"
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of BNPB said in a statement issued on
Dec 29, 2016.
"Surveys in several regions show that the poor people have suffered more because of the natural disasters. Imagine, those living along Bengawan Solo River have been hit by floods five times a year, and in Sampang (Madura) 15 times a year, on average," he said.
"Surveys in several regions show that the poor people have suffered more because of the natural disasters. Imagine, those living along Bengawan Solo River have been hit by floods five times a year, and in Sampang (Madura) 15 times a year, on average," he said.