Cyclone Seroja exposes Indonesia’s climate vulnerability

Recent Cyclone Seroja took at least 160 lives in Indonesia, hitting a remote cluster of islands, causing flash floods and landslides. Amid pandemic and health crisis, the local population suffers a lot from a natural disaster.

Last month, Cyclone Seroja made landfall, bringing torrential rain and triggering cold lava floods. In East Nusa Tenggara province, more than 22,000 people have been displaced and at least 2,000 homes have been damaged. Indonesia’s disaster agency chief Doni Monardo said families were receiving 500,000 rupiahs ($35) so they are able to rent accommodation rather than stay in the evacuation shelters.

On Friday, BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati warned that a second cyclone, named Odette, could hit the islands of Sumatra and Bali this week, the Jakarta Post has learned.

“People are advised to remain cautious of heavy winds and rains that could happen in some areas and be mindful of threats of floods, landslides and flash floods,” Karnawati said.

Survivors displaced by the cyclone have been moved to crowded rescue shelters where there is a high risk of Covid-19 transmission, the authorities said.