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2022 saw fewer but deadlier natural disasters: BNPB
While 2022 saw a reduction in the occurrence of natural disasters, the death toll nonetheless ranked the highest in four years as a result of the deadly Cianjur, West Java, earthquake in November, as authorities promised improved disaster resilience by building on experience learned from this year.
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A villager looks at damaged houses following a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 602 people, with hundreds injured and others missing in Cianjur, West Java, on Nov. 22, 2022. (AFP/Aditya Aji)
W
hile 2022 saw a reduction in the occurrence of natural disasters, the death toll nonetheless ranked the highest in four years as a result of the deadly Cianjur, West Java, earthquake in November, as authorities promised improved disaster resilience by building on experience learned from this year.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) told a year-end press briefing on Monday that this year, as of Dec. 25, saw a total of 3,461 natural disasters, although that number might still rise as some regional administrations have not finished submitting their data.
In contrast, 2021 saw a total of 3,514 natural disasters, while 2020 saw more than 5,000.
Of this year’s disaster events, hydrometeorological disasters ranked the most common at 3,154 occurrences, with 1,493 floods, 1,033 instances of extreme weather and 628 landslides.
But, this year’s death toll of 844 deaths was the highest since 2018. Some 5,000 lives were lost in 2018, a majority of which were in the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck Palu, Central Sulawesi, in September of that year.
“Despite hydrometeorological disasters making up 95 percent of this year’s total tally, in terms of the deaths, 80 percent were due to earthquakes,” the BNPB’s data and information center acting head Abdul Muhari said.
The shallow 5.6 magnitude land-based quake that struck Cianjur regency in November contributed most to this year’s death toll, as around 602 lives were lost during the deadly incident.
