Sukabumi, W Java (ANTARA) - The Sukabumi Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) recorded that throughout April this year, 68 natural disasters had hit different parts of Sukabumi District in West Java Province, damaging almost 100 houses and forcing 354 people to take refuge.

Landslides dominated the disasters, Head of the Sukabumi Disaster Mitigation Agency's Management Operations Center Daeng Sutisna told local journalists here on Wednesday.

"In April, there were 35 landslides in vulnerable areas caused by heavy rainfall," he said, adding that the areas of Sukabumi District also went through other disasters such as flooding, whirlwinds, and land movement.

As a result, a total of 153 families or some 476 people were affected, and 354 of the affected residents were displaced. The disasters damaged 98 houses, 25 of which were seriously damaged.

However, the local government and BPBD helped those affected, and their living conditions gradually improved, except those who were still staying in shelters.

He predicted that the catastrophes would continue to threaten Sukabumi District in May, including land movement in Gunungbatu Hamlet, Kertaangsana Village, Nyalindung Sub-district.

Sukabumi District is just one of the areas in West Java, which is prone to natural disasters.

In January this year, a landslide hit Garehong area of Sirnaresmi Village, Cisolok Sub-district, Sukabumi District, killing 33 people.

According to the West Java Provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency, a total of 1,561 natural disasters occurred in different parts of the province throughout 2018, killing 50 people and affecting 75,706 residents.

The head of the agency's rehabilitation and reconstruction division, Budi Budiman Wahyu, explained recently that landslides dominated the catastrophes, followed by house fires, whirlwinds, flooding, forest and bush fires, and earthquakes.

As a result of 544 landslides, 434 house fires, 286 whirlwinds, 149 floods, 141 forest and bush fires, and two earthquakes that occurred last year, 50 people died, 75,706 others were affected, and 31,474 houses were damaged and destroyed, he noted.

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Translator: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
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