JAKARTA, May 6 — Southeast Asia was hit by 18 disaster events last week, including volcanic eruptions, floods, and severe storms, affecting thousands of people, said the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).
In Indonesia alone, natural disasters struck multiple provinces such as Banten, Central Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Riau, Central Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency reported flooding in Sabah and Pahang, while the Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council documented floods in Mindanao and a volcanic eruption at Mount Bulusan.
Thailand’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported floods, storms, and wind-related disasters across at least 23 provinces, including Udon Thani, Kalasin, and Sukhothai.
In Vietnam, the Disaster and Dyke Management Authority reported storm and wind damage across provinces such as Son La, Kon Tum, An Giang, Bac Kan, and Kien Giang, AHA Centre noted in its weekly disaster update for April 28 to May 4.
According to the centre, Mount Bulusan in the Philippines erupted on April 28, sending a 4,500m ash plume and prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to raise the alert to level 1, affecting 142,700 people in Sorsogon.
“Agricultural damage was valued at US$16,200 (RM68,558), and relief assistance of US$472,000 was provided by relevant authorities,” it said.
In Myanmar, updated figures from the Disaster Management Department showed that the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Mandalay on March 28 resulted in at least 3,785 deaths, 92 missing, and over 5,100 injured.
“Around 499,000 people were affected, with 39,000 displaced. Damaged infrastructure is estimated at US$1.9 billion. Data collection and validation are ongoing,” the AHA Centre said.
Six earthquakes with magnitudes of over 5.0 were recorded, while volcanic activity continued at several sites in Indonesia and the Philippines, it added.
— Bernama
