JAKARTA – The Asean region experienced 22 disasters in the third week of the year, with floods, landslides, and wind-related incidents wreaking havoc, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines.
According to the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure documented floods and wind-related disasters in various regions.
The impact was substantial, affecting 44,400 families and displacing 44 individuals, as noted by the AHA Centre in its weekly update.
“Central Kalimantan faced heavy rainfall, leading to widespread flooding and structural damage,” it said.
Across the seas in the Philippines, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported flooding and landslides in Southern Mindanao, known as Region XI, and Caraga, northeast Mindanao.
The impact was severe, with 16 deaths, five injuries, and 32,000 displaced, prompting authorities to allocate US$964,000 (RM4.55 million) in assistance.
Both countries also grappled with seismic activities with five earthquakes of over 5.0 magnitude and eight volcanic activities reported, the AHA Centre added. – January 23, 2024