July 7, 2000, The Philippine Star, RP No. 1 worldwide in number of disasters, by Ella Oducayen,

July 7, 2000, The Philippine Star, RP No. 1 worldwide in number of disasters, by Ella Oducayen,

The Philippines leads all countries in the world on the most number of natural disasters, according to a Europe-based organization. 

According to the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) based in Brussels, Belgium, the Philippines has a record of 120 disasters since 1985, causing a total of 20,000 deaths. 

Data from CRED received by STOP DEATH, the disaster management arm of the Department of Health, said China and Japan were ranked second and third, respectively. 

Dr. Carmencita Banatin, STOP DEATH program director, said typhoons account for 60 percent of the casualties. 

The country is beset with an average of 19 typhoons every year, mostly from July to December, causing flash floods that affect both lowlands and mountainous regions. 

Severe flooding is regularly experienced in Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Caraga, Cotabato Valley, Bicol Region and Western Visayas.

Other disasters that have struck the country are earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, ship sinkings, plane crashes, and even the red tide phenomenon. Five of 17 active volcanoes in the countries have erupted in the last 25 years. They are Kanlaon, Bulusan, Taal, Mayon and Pinatubo. The Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 is considered the most violent in this century. 

Pinatubo spewed around seven cubic kilometers of volcanic materials, affecting some 1.2 million people, and caused the death of 932 persons. 

The other recent major disasters in the country are: 

* The Luzon earthquake of July 6, 1990 with a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale. Some 1,666 people died, 3,561 were injured, 100,000 houses were damaged and billions worth of infrastructures destroyed. 

* The Ormoc flash floods in 1991, killing 5,000 people and rendering 45,000 homeless. 

*The Ozone Disco fire in March 1996 where 150 young students died and 140 were injured. 

* Spill at the Marcopper mine in Marinduque in March 1996. The seepage reached the whole stretch of Boac River and affected the livelihood and health of 1,104 families. 

*The sinking of M/V Princess of the Orient in September 1998, leaving 69 people dead and 81 missing. *The Cherry Hills subdivision landslide in Antipolo, Rizal, damaging 379 of 440 houses and killing 58 people. 

*The crash of Air Philippines 541 in Davao on April 19, 2000. All 131 passengers and crew died. 

The DOH stressed the number of disasters in the country in observance of July as National Disaster Consciousness Month. The department has mobilized its field offices and specialty hospitals to conduct disaster drills, awareness activities and skills enhancement exercises.