50 Disasters Hit Indonesia In January

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- Fifty disasters hit Indonesia in January, with most of it being hydro-meteorological disasters, leaving 41 people dead or missing. Indonesian National Disaster Management Body (BNBP) said the disasters included landslides, floods, fire, earthquake, road accidents, high tides and tornadoes, which recorded the highest number of 23 incidents, involving 25 districts in the country. "The tornadoes have left 16 people dead and missing, 420 people evacuated, 477 houses badly damaged, 83 houses moderately affected and 2,270 other houses sustained minor damage. "Overall, disasters that hit Indonesia throughout January 2012 had caused 41 people dead or missing," BNBP said. Over 15 flood incidents also occurred in more than 20 towns and districts in Indonesia last month. More tornadoes and landslides are expected to occur during the rainy season this year. -- BERNAMA