Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The number of whirlwinds that hit Indonesia last year was 28 times higher than that of the year 2002 due to the impact of global warming, according National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
"Global warming has resulted in the formation of more cumulonimbus clouds that could trigger whirlwinds," he said during the weekend.
Indonesia has been hit by 258 whirlwinds so far this year, which have accounted for 36 percent of the total number of disasters that have struck the country in 2012.
A total of 404 districts/cities, inhabited by 115 million people, in Sumatra, Northern Java, East Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi, are vulnerable to whirlwinds.
Sutopo predicted that the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods, landslides, droughts, forest fires and whirlwinds, would increase next year.
Citing the forecast by National Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), he said whirlwinds were likely to occur in March-April 2013.
While and floods and landslides were most likely to happen during the January-March period. A total of 60.9 million people live in 315 districts/cities that are prone to floods, while some 124 million live in 270 districts/cities that are vulnerable to landslides.
Forest fires might occur during the dry season next year in eight provinces: North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan.
The country is likely to be affected by droughts during August-October 2013, particularly in Java, Bali and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). (*/DWA/T007)
Related News
Impacts Of El Nino Still Manageable: Agriculture Minister
Friday, 7 Agustus 2015 8:36
Steps Have Been Taken To Avert Drought Disaster: Minister
Tuesday, 4 Agustus 2015 14:31
102 Indonesian Districts Suffer From Drought: Mitigation Agency
Saturday, 1 Agustus 2015 19:39
Salt Spreads in Air for Rain
Friday, 7 Maret 2014 13:43
Floods Still Threatening Jakarta Until March
Monday, 24 Februari 2014 7:37
203 Disasters Hit RI in January
Tuesday, 4 Februari 2014 8:15
Water Level in Bogor Reaches 220 Cm
Thursday, 30 Januari 2014 8:46
Floods Affect Thousands Families in Tangerang
Wednesday, 29 Januari 2014 16:25
Seven Die in Jakarta Floods
Saturday, 18 Januari 2014 18:32
President Sends Staff to Monitor Situation in Manado
Saturday, 18 Januari 2014 18:30
Aid to Send for Flood Victims in Manado
Thursday, 16 Januari 2014 17:23
Whirlwinds Damage 67 Buildings
Wednesday, 15 Januari 2014 11:18