Events in Indonesia highlight vulnerability of Pacific Rim countries to natural disasters
It was a tragic start to the week for Indonesia, as separate locations were battered by different natural disasters. Jakarta, the nation’s capital, was brought to a virtual standstill as a rainstorm pounded the city on Monday afternoon (Oct. 25). Many parts of the metropolis were inundated by flood waters that were half a meter to two meters deep, stranding thousands of cars on the roads for hours and forcing commuters to wade through the floods. Later in the evening, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the area of the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra, generating a tsunami that is believed to have killed at least 113 people and left an additional 160 persons unaccounted for. These two incidents were followed by the eruption of Mt. Merapi in the early evening of Tuesday, Oct. 26, which resulted in the deaths of 25 people and the evacuation of at least 19,000 residents living within a 10 km. radius of the volcano.
These recent events in Indonesia underscore the vulnerability to natural disasters of countries in the Pacific Rim. Being in an area of intense geophysical activity due to the series of volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches dotting the sea bed, the countries of the Asia-Pacific region have a high exposure to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Several countries in the region are also situated in the Western Pacific Basin, the world’s most active typhoon belt, making them particularly susceptible to the impacts of severe weather disturbances. Already the Asia-Pacific accounts for over 70% of the world’s natural disasters. Coupled with the fact that the region is home to approximately 40% of the world’s population and accounts for roughly half of global GDP, it becomes more urgent for the national and local governments of these countries to continue building capacity, both within the individual states and across the region, so that political decision-makers can have a better understanding of the socio-economic costs of disasters, gaps in current disaster risk reduction approaches can be identified and addressed, and practical and appropriate mechanisms for enhancing the resilience of various sectors can be developed.
Sources:
“Tsunami Warning Lifted After Quake in Mentawai Region.” The Jakarta Globe. 25 October 2010
“Fears of Worsening Floods as Rain Cripples Jakarta.” The Jakarta Globe. 26 October 2010.
“Mount Merapi Volcano Finally Erupts.” The Jakarta Globe. 26 October 2010.
“TFEP Strategy 2009-15.” APEC Task Force on Emergency Preparedness.
