REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Hydro-meteorological disasters are forecast to be dominant in 2018, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

"It is forecast that natural disasters in 2018 will be dominated by floods, landslides, and whirlwinds. It is estimated that 90 percent of the natural disasters would be hydro-meteorological disasters," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the BNPB, said here on Thursday.

Rainy and dry seasons are expected to be normal this year. There will be no El Nino, which could cause drought, or La Nina, which could trigger excessive rains.

"However, floods, landslides, and whirlwinds will remain dominant; however, their locations will depend on the intensity of precipitation.

Indonesia is prone to hydro-meteorological disasters, because the country is located in the tropical region and is an archipelago having high precipitation, as well as due to the impact of global climate change, he explained.

"Global climate change has made rains more extreme, and therefore, heavy rains are often experienced," he noted.

Anthropogenic factors have also worsened flooding, landslides, and whirlwinds, he added.

Hydro-meteorological disasters have been worsened by the exploitation of environmental and natural resources, as well as land conversions, such as conversion of forests into plantation areas.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika