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ENPASAR:  Extreme weather has triggered 29 disasters in the first month of 2011 alone, a senior official says.

“We are on a 24-hour alert right now and are continuously monitoring potential disasters to enable us to rapidly coordinate and send assistance to affected areas,” Bali Disaster Mitigation Center head Putu Anom Agustina said.

So far this month, the resort island suffered six major floods, two landslides, six fires, 13 powerful gales and two tidal waves. The weather-related incidents have killed five people, injured 15 and destroyed 57 houses.

In 2010, the island experienced 233 weather-related disasters, including 32 major floods, 75 landslides, 56 fires,  29 wind storms, and four tidal waves. Seven people were killed in those disasters. — JP