Under Indonesian Tsunami Threat

Indonesia crowned the country most threatened by tsunamis in the world when seen from the number of affected populations. But in terms of economic impact, the position of Indonesia sits in fifth position, a position occupied by Japan.

Head of Data and Information National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said Indonesia has various types of disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, drought, and wildfires.

Data from the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR) mentions,for the tsunami disaster,Indonesia ranked first of 265 countries in the world,with 5,402,239 people who will be affected.

"For landslides,Indonesia is also the first ranking of 162 countries with 197,372 people affected,"said Sutopo, Wednesday,August 10, 2011.

For earthquakes, Sutopo adds, Indonesia is ranked third of 153 countries with 11,056,806 people affected. "For floods, Indonesia ranked sixth of 162 countries with 1,101,507 people affected," he said.

Not only the impact on humans,also raises the economic impact of disasters. For example, when the tsunami hit Aceh in 2004.At that time,damage and economic losses due to disasters is estimated at Rp39 trillion.

Indonesia also had to go back to bear the economic losses after disasters hit the region. Note BNPB found,the earthquake in Yogyakarta and Central Java in 2006 causing losses and damages valued at Rp27 trillion, the Jakarta flood in 2007 (Rp 4, 8 trillion),West Sumatra earthquake in 2009 (Rp21,6 trillion),and the eruption of Merapi in 2010 in outside of the impact of cold lava Rp3,56 trillion.

"Compare this with the need to build a bridge Suramadu around Rp 4, 5 trillion and the need for phase II JORR along 122.6 kilometers Rp5 trillion. That is the impact of such disasters reduce the pace of development," said Sutopo.

In fact,said Sutopo,the government's ability to allocate disaster reserve fund each year only around Rp 4 trillion. Moreover the funds are used to cope with all the big and small disasters that happen all over Indonesia.