Natural Disaster

Resilience In A Riskier World

Over the past two decades, the Asia-Pacific region has made remarkable progress in managing disaster risk. But countries can never let down their guard. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its epicentre now in Asia, and all its tragic consequences, has exposed the frailties of human societies in the face of powerful natural forces.As of mid-August 2021, Asian and Pacific countries had reported 65 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 1 million deaths.

25 August 2021
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Typhoon Causes Major Flooding In Manila

The third typhoon to hit the storm-battered Philippines in as many weeks caused major flooding in Manila on Thursday, trapping people on rooftops and claiming at least 11 lives in other parts of the country.Typhoon Vamco packed winds of up to 155 kilometres (96 miles) per hour as it swept across the country's largest island of Luzon after making landfall overnight.Authorities warned of landslides and potentially deadly storm surges along the coast.Heavy rain effectively shut down Manila,

13 November 2020
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Another Typhoon Menaces The Philippines

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in storm-battered parts of the Philippines Wednesday as the third typhoon in as many weeks barrelled towards the country. Vamco grazed Catanduanes Island - which was devastated by Typhoon Goni less than two weeks ago - as it neared the most populous island of Luzon where it was expected to make landfall early Thursday.Powerful winds and intense rain battered parts of central and southern Luzon as the eye of the typhoon approached.On

12 November 2020
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One Dead As Strong Quake Hits Central Philippines

At least one person was killed and dozens injured when a 6.6-magnitude earthquake shook the central Philippines on Tuesday, sending residents fleeing their homes and damaging buildings and roads.The shallow quake struck southeast of Masbate Island in the Bicol region at 8:03 am (0003 GMT), the United States (US) Geological Survey said."There are a lot of damaged houses," said Staff Sergeant Antonio Clemente in Cataingan, a town of about 50,000 people on the impoverished island sever

19 August 2020
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Indonesia Floods Death Toll Rises To 21

The death toll from floods on Indonesia's Sulawesi island has risen to at least 21, authorities said Wednesday as residents tried to salvage a few belongings from their inundated homes.The flash floods in North Luwu regency left hundreds of houses buried in mud after three rivers burst their banks due to torrential rains which started on Monday.Nearly 1,600 people were taking refuge in temporary shelters, the Search and Rescue Agency said Wednesday.The death toll rose to 21 with the disc

16 July 2020
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Typhoon misery for Philippines on Christmas Day

Typhoon Phanfone pummelled the central Philippines on Christmas Day, bringing a wet, miserable and terrifying holiday to millions in the mainly Catholic nation.Police said six people were missing as the typhoon leapt from one small island to another for the second day - crumpling houses, toppling trees and blacking out cities and towns, including in popular resorts like Boracay.At the height of the festive season on Wednesday, tens of thousands were stranded at shuttered ports or evacuation c

26 December 2019
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Third deadly quake in weeks hits south Philippines

A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Thursday, killing at least five people and sparking searches of seriously damaged buildings that had already been rattled by two previous deadly tremors in recent weeks. The 6.5 magnitude quake hit the island of Mindanao, the US Geological Survey said, causing locals to run to safety in the same area where a strong tremor killed eight people on Tuesday.The powerful shaking caused serious damage to a condominium building in the

1 November 2019
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Six die in Philippines quake

A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Tuesday, killing six people, cracking buildings and injuring dozens in a region still reeling from a previous deadly tremor.Terrified locals ran into the streets after the 6.6-magnitude quake, which hit the island of Mindanao as schools and offices opened for the day.The shaking lasted up to a minute in some areas, damaging homes, multi-storey buildings and classrooms in a region where hundreds are still displaced by a quake that killed

30 October 2019
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Strong earthquake hits eastern Indonesia

A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit off the remote Maluku islands in eastern Indonesia Thursday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.The quake struck about 37 kilometres (23 miles) northeast of Ambon in Maluku province at 8:46 am local time, at a depth of 29 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage in the area, which has been rocked by strong quakes in the past."I was asleep with my family when

26 September 2019
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Indonesian tsunami death toll soars

The death toll from a tsunami triggered by suspected volcanic activity near the Sunda Strait in Indonesia has topped 200 as rescuers continue to search for dozens missing in the tourist region.More than 220 people, mostly tourists, are confirmed dead, at least 843 injured and dozens are missing in the two provinces hit by waves late on Saturday, according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

24 December 2018
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Rosy road ahead for insurance markets

Growth prospects for six major Southeast Asian insurance markets – Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines – remain robust undergirded by sturdy socioeconomic fundamentals according to a recent report by Moody’s Investors Service. Nevertheless, pace and quality of this growth will vary according to geographies.

8 November 2018
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10 costliest natural disasters in 20 years

Thailand’s Great Flood of 2011 which took place between July and December affected more than two-thirds of the country. The event, deemed the worst flooding in half a century, affected 65 out of the country’s 77 provinces, killing more than 800 people. It was estimated that 13.6 million lives were affected, with a million of them displaced or left homeless. The economic damages associated with the flooding event were widespread.

12 October 2018
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