National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC)

Despite the notion of Southeast Asia being a hazard and disaster hotspot and Brunei Darussalam being perceived as a low hazard risk country, this perception is somewhat counteracted because Brunei has its own series of hazard occurrences. An example is the occurrences of small-scale but cumulatively destructive floods.

Flooding and landslides are the most frequent natural hazards that occur annually in the country and are common during the northeast monsoon, generally from October to January. December and January are the wettest months and generally see high-intensity rainfall that can cause flash floods in low-lying areas as well as flooding in floodplain areas, particularly in the major catchments in the Tutong and Belait Districts, these floodplain inundations normally recede after about two weeks. The occurrences of continuous rainfall is also one of the trigger factors for landslides. Although Brunei is not in the typhoon-belt zone, strong winds can occur regularly due to the tail-end effect of typhoon activities during the southwest monsoon. Strong winds are also common during cold surges and heavy thunderstorms.
In Brunei Darussalam, two types of flooding are observed: slow onset and flash floods with minimum or little mud debris. The interior regions of the country, which consist of alluvial plains, are prone to seasonal flooding (slow onset) during monsoon seasons.

Landslides are infrequent but mainly occur in developed areas, affecting public and private properties situated within sloping proximity due to soil erosion and ground movement. Mud and loose soil from terraced hills cause damage to houses and buildings in immediate proximity, which have lead to few fatalities reported. Debris clearance, temporary relocation, and slope stabilizing projects such as retaining wall measures are taken to mitigate these damages.

Elevated temperatures and drier spells related to more variable rainy seasons indicate that experience of forest fires of Brunei will increase in the coming decades as climate change effects take hold. Brunei has witnessed an increased number of forest fires during dry seasons in recent years. The Brunei Fire and Rescue Department (BFRD) recorded a total of 1,116 incidents of forest and grass fires in 2015 alone. More recently, BFRD reported more than 550 forest and bushfires in 2021 with a total of about 300 hectares of land affected. Fire intensity can be exacerbated by strong dry winds that lead to uncontrollable fire spread. In most cases, a forest fire in Brunei is a “ground fire” because of the consistent burning of peat soil rich in organic contents. Fire in peat soils burns and spreads slowly in comparison to dried leaves, woods, or branches of trees. Ground fires damage the ground cover of the forest floor and decrease the nutrients available in the soil that take hundreds of years to build up.

Like many other coastal regions, Brunei Darussalam is still susceptible to strong seasonal winds and storm surges, especially during the Inter-Monsoon seasons. The Inter-Monsoon seasons typically occur between November and March which, according to the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department (BDMD) can bring strong northeasterly winds of up to 37 km/h, Brunei Darussalam can experience strong winds, particularly along its northern coast. However, Brunei Darussalam is still located in a region that is vulnerable to the effects of climate change causing more frequent and severe weather events. Brunei Darussalam could become more susceptible to these hazards in the future if climate change continues to exacerbate extreme weather patterns.

Operations Division