Indonesia’s Worst Disasters to Date

Vannessa | 18 - 02 - 2020
Indonesia’s Worst Disasters to Date

Indonesia is a Southeast Asian island country that houses several volcanoes and hot springs. With more than seventeen thousand islands, this archipelagic country lies between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Its geographic location is one of the major reasons for the numerous natural disasters the country has faced and here are some of the worst to date.

Disasters That Hit Indonesia

Tambora Eruption (April 10, 1815)

Quoted as Indonesia’s deadliest natural disaster, Mt. Tambora erupted on Sumbawa on April 10, 2018, killing a total of 100,000 people. The gigantic explosion’s aftermath caused millions to die months after the eruption due to various climatic changes that happened on the island. 

Indian Ocean Tsunami (December 26, 2004)

The 2004 tsunami not just shook Indonesia but killed more than 230,000 people across various countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India. An earthquake of magnitude 9.1 under the seabed triggered giant waves that struck the island of Sumatra killing around 170,000 people of Indonesia which further moved to the coastlines of the neighboring countries’ devastating life and property to a great extent. It took years for people to recover from the aftermath of this unforgettable disaster.

1. Indonesia Is Made up of How Many Islands?
  • A. 10,000
  • B. 20,000
  • C. 8000
  • D. 17,000

Yogyakarta Earthquake (May 24, 2006)

An early morning disaster that happened around 5:54 local time, the Yogyakarta earthquake took the lives of nearly 5,700 people in the province of Yogyakarta, a city in Java, and Bantul regency. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake injured more than 45,000 people along with huge devastation of property in the area. Yogyakarta is said to have faced several earthquakes in the past as well.

Lombok Earthquake ( July 29 to August 18, 2018)

Lombok, a famous Indonesian tourist destination, was struck by a series of earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.4 killing around 563 residents and injuring more than 1000 in the year 2018. Panic struck as buildings started crumbling down due to the impact of continuous quakes.

Disaster management of Indonesia has advanced in so many ways yet natural calamities are completely unavoidable and continue to take a toll on the island country’s life and property.

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