Dili, May 12, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Civil Protection Authority (APC), through the team from the Office of External Relations and Communication (GREK), reported the weekly data on natural disasters in Timor-Leste over the past two weeks. This conference was held in the APC hall in Caicoli, Dili.
The Head of the Office of External Relations and Communication (GREK), Nelson Nunes Orleans, stated that the Civil Protection Authority registered disaster cases affecting a total of 137 people, caused by various types of climate change-related events that occurred from April 28 to May 5, 2025.
“During this one-week period from April 28 to May 5, 2025, the disasters in Timor-Leste were of various types such as: total house destruction (6 cases), houses damaged by strong wind (1), houses flooded (20), houses burnt by fire (5), with 2 fatalities and 2 injuries. In total, there were 6 cases that met priority criteria, 24 emergency responses, 137 people affected, and 44 people evacuated,” said Nelson Nunes Orleans, Head of GREK.
He further detailed that the disasters occurred in several municipalities: in Bobonaro, 1 person died; in Liquiça, 1 person died and 1 house was burnt; in Manatuto, 1 house was damaged by strong wind and 2 houses burnt; in Manufahi, 19 houses were flooded and 1 person was injured; in Viqueque, 1 house was flooded and 2 houses burnt, including 1 injured person, indicating a variety of disaster types by municipality.
“For the second week, from May 5 to May 12, 2025, the Civil Protection Authority registered disasters such as: 3 total house destructions, 3 houses damaged by strong wind, with 1 fatality and 1 missing person, 1 case that met priority criteria, 2 emergency responses, 15 people affected, and 0 evacuated, according to data collected by APC during this second week across Timor-Leste,” said the Head of the Office.
He stated that during the second week, disasters occurred in Baucau where 1 person went missing; in Lautem, 1 person died; in Liquiça, 1 house was damaged by strong wind; in Manufahi, 1 house was also damaged by strong wind; and in the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse-Ambeno, 1 house was damaged by strong wind. Aside from these, the overall disaster situation was normal.
“Currently, the Civil Protection Authority’s command stationed in each municipality, together with its relevant partners, has already provided emergency assistance to the families affected by natural disasters both food and non-food items,” the Head of the Office emphasized.
He informed that currently, the Operational Command of the Civil Protection Authority stationed in the municipalities will continue to carry out detailed assessments of damaged and lost items, so that the government can resolve these issues.
He further explained that the Operational Command of the Civil Protection Authority in the municipalities continues conducting detailed verification of the damages and losses according to each disaster type, enabling the government to provide support for the items destroyed by natural disasters.
Report: Nelfiano
Photo: Nelfiano