7 Various Natural Disasters That Often Occur in Indonesia

Kapanlagi.com - No one knows when natural disasters will occur. All forms of natural disasters are certainly detrimental to us and as humans, we cannot stop natural disasters. Natural disasters are disasters caused by natural events or a series of natural events that result in loss of life, damage to the environment, property damage, and psychological effects.

In Indonesia, natural disasters often occur such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and others. The occurrence of various natural disasters is normal because geographically, Indonesia is crossed by the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Alpide Belt. Indonesia stands on the intersection of tectonic plates. These plates are on a layer of liquid, heat, and plastic, allowing them to move irregularly and causing collisions between two plates, resulting in earthquakes.

Not only that, there are still various other natural disasters that also have dangerous risks. What are they? Read the complete review below.

1. Landslide

(credit: pixabay)

The first type of natural disaster is a landslide. Landslides often occur during the rainy season when the soil in higher positions suddenly falls or slides down. Landslides often happen because of weak soil structure.

This is because there are no tree roots to hold the soil together. As a result, the landslide will bury and damage anything in its path, such as houses and other structures. The saturated soil in the landslide makes the evacuation process difficult.

2. Tornado

Tornadoes are natural disasters that commonly occur during the transitional seasons. Tornadoes can lift objects around them and cause trees and houses to collapse. Signs of an impending tornado include extremely hot weather suddenly being replaced by heavy rain.

3. Earthquake

(credit: pixabay)

Earthquakes are one of the natural disasters that frequently occur in Indonesia. This is because Indonesia, which is located on active tectonic plates, often triggers vibrations or shocks. These can range from small to large-scale shocks. Not only that, earthquakes in Indonesia can also be caused by volcanic activity and rock collapses.

4. Volcanic Eruption

Mountains, which appear sturdy and are one of the beautiful natural resources. Mountains themselves contain a variety of hot fluids in their bowels, such as molten rocks and magma. At some point, the magma and materials in the bowels of the earth will reach saturation. This magma will erupt to the surface of the earth through natural pipes that rise high within the mountain. When magma erupts through these natural pipes, it is called a volcanic eruption.

Mountains do not erupt on their own without any cause. The cause of volcanic eruptions can originate from within the earth, such as an increase in volcanic earthquakes, tectonic movements in the earth's layers, deformation of the mountain body, and the compression of tectonic plates, as well as extremely high pressure.

5. Tsunami

(credit: pixabay)

Tsunami is one of the most devastating natural disasters. Tsunamis can occur due to movements at the bottom of the sea, such as earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions, causing giant ocean waves to form. This can result in a significant number of casualties.

Signs of an impending tsunami are usually marked by earthquake tremors felt in the surrounding areas near the epicenter. Shortly after, the sea water will recede and suddenly reappear as high waves, causing destruction in the surrounding areas.

6. Flood

Floods are one of the frequently heard natural disasters. Floods can occur due to heavy rainfall, causing water reservoirs in an area to overflow. Additionally, floods can also be caused by poor water absorption or drainage in a particular area. In Indonesia, floods often occur in major cities such as the capital, Jakarta. This is due to the lack of land to absorb rainwater, resulting in floods.

7. Drought

(credit: pixabay)

In contrast to floods, drought is one of the disasters that often occur in Indonesia. Drought is a disaster where the availability of water is insufficient for the amount of water needed. When drought strikes an area, it becomes a significant problem considering that water is a basic necessity for living creatures. Various efforts are needed to overcome drought. One of the efforts we can do is to build reservoirs and carry out reforestation.

8. Forest Fires

Furthermore, another natural disaster that often occurs in Indonesia is forest fires during the dry season. The causes of forest fires include lightning strikes that ignite the forest and cause sparks. In addition, it can also be caused by several fire spots due to prolonged dry season, as well as the burning of peat that ignites the forest. The impact of forest fires is the emergence of thick smoke, which disrupts the activities of the community due to reduced visibility.

Those are some of the various earthquakes in Indonesia. With that, hopefully you will always be aware and cautious too.

(kpl/dtm)