Minor Disaster Incidents Rise 34.1 Pct In 2024

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- The total number of minor disaster incidents in 2024 rose by 34.1 per cent to 228 cases compared with 170 cases recorded the previous year, according to the Environmental Statistics 2025 released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) today.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said climate change continued to affect the country last year, resulting in various environmental impacts and an increase in disaster incidents such as floods, storms, landslides and fires.

“Among the states that recorded the highest number of disaster incidents were Terengganu and Perak, with 28 cases each, followed by Pahang and Selangor with 24 cases respectively.

“Floods remained the main disaster, accounting for 218 incidents or 95.6 per cent of the total disaster cases in Malaysia,” he said in a statement today.

The number of disaster victims affected by floods, storms, landslides and fires increased by 28.8 per cent to 259,841 people compared with 201,712 in 2023.

On dengue fever cases, he said the number declined slightly by 0.6 per cent to 122,423 cases in 2024 from 123,133 cases in 2023, with states recording a reduction, including Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Kedah.

“In addition, malaria cases nationwide also declined to 2,384 cases compared with 3,629 cases the previous year. States that recorded reductions in malaria cases include Sabah with 1,254 cases, Sarawak with 599 cases and Kelantan with 124 cases,” Mohd Uzir said.

-- BERNAMA