Muhammad Hendartyo, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said throughout January to September 24, 2018, as many as 1,999 disasters befell Indonesia. According to Sutopo, the number would likely increase up to the end of this year.
"The impact of the disaster is quite enormous," said Sutopo in a written statement, Thursday, Oct 25.
The death toll or missing victims thus far, Sutopo mentioned, recorded at 3,548 people, while 13,112 people injured, 3.06 million people were evacuated; 339,969 houses severely damaged; 7,810 houses damaged; 20,608 houses lightly damaged; and thousands of public facilities destroyed.
Indonesia is the disaster-prone country, Sutopo marked. Various disasters hit the archipelago, and the trend tends to increase over the years.
"The high potential of disasters [in Indonesia], such as the earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, flood, landslide, drought, forest and land fire, tornado, and extreme weather, in addition to highly susceptible and has low capacity [to manage disaster], cause a high disaster risk," he said.
According to the BNPB spokesman, disaster is multidiscipline, multisector, multidimensions, and multicomplex which are related to each other. Thus it requires comprehensive and sustainable management.
Currently, Indonesian territory would enter the rainy season. Sutopo estimated floods, landslide, and tornadoes would possibly occur during the season. He saw that averagely 5,000 to 6,000 earthquakes jolted the country in a year, but that could not be predicted precisely.
"Earthquake may occur at any time, especially in quake-prone regions. The public is urged to be vigilant. Acknowledge the dangers and reduce the risk," Sutopo concluded.