Disasters in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste's civil-protection framework is based on Lei da Proteção Civil N.º 12/2020. The Autoridade de Proteção Civil (APC) operates nationwide under the supervision of the Ministério do Interior and coordinates risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery. Six national directorates cover firefighting, prevention and mitigation, emergency response, recovery, disaster-risk management and resources. Municipal authorities and the Oe-Cusse Ambeno Special Administrative Region (RAEOA) also have responsibilities, while PNTL, F-FDTL, Bombeiros, SNAEM, MSS, Obras Públicas, local administrations, Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL) and humanitarian partners support operations according to the situation. Floods, flash floods, landslides, erosion, drought, heavy rain and strong winds have the greatest practical relevance. Tropical cyclones, storm surges, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and sea-level rise can create less frequent but severe consequences. The wet season generally runs from November to April and increases flood and landslide risk. The dry season generally runs from May to November and increases drought risk. Dili and other river plains, coastal areas, mountain slopes and remote rural communities face different combinations of exposure, access and infrastructure risks. The Easter Floods associated with Tropical Cyclone Seroja on 4 April 2021 affected all 13 municipalities. Government reporting recorded 33,835 affected households and 44 deaths at one reporting stage, while later official figures varied between 34 and 45 deaths as assessments changed. Homes, roads, bridges, water and energy systems, communications, schools and agricultural livelihoods suffered damage. Preparedness includes risk assessment, monitoring, prevention, public education, self-protection and national, regional and municipal emergency, contingency, evacuation, shelter and supply planning. CVTL supports family plans, community drills and local disaster-management structures. TERS provides digital real-time recording of hazards and damage, while MHRVA supplies multi-hazard risk data. Households benefit from knowing nearby safe locations, keeping essential documents and supplies accessible, and agreeing how family members will communicate when mobile networks fail. The Direção Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica (DNMG) provides forecasts, severe-weather warnings, live-station information, seismic warnings and disaster-risk information for flash floods, landslides and heavy rain. A 2026 early-warning baseline found that 65% of households received warnings and 22% received none; 56% of rural households had weak or no mobile coverage. Around 90% of surveyed people trusted local leaders, so effective warnings combine DNMG and digital channels with suco leaders, loudspeakers, megaphones and direct household contact. A suco is a local administrative and community unit. Warnings work best when they state the hazard, affected area, expected timing and required action in language people can understand. The Sistema Integrado de Operações de Proteção e Socorro (SIOPS) provides joint operations under unified command. APC coordinates search and rescue, protection, evacuation, shelter and essential supplies at national, regional and municipal levels. The official APC emergency number is 115 and was introduced as a 24-hour service, but current reliability and nationwide coverage are not fully documented; people should also use reachable local APC, Bombeiros and administrative channels. An alerta enables preventive or special measures. A municipal authority or municipal administrator can issue a municipal alert, RAEOA can issue a regional alert, and the competent government member can issue a national alert. A contingência applies when municipal resources are exceeded and activates plans immediately. A calamidade is declared by government resolution and activates immediate planning, damage inventories, assistance criteria and, where necessary, resource mobilisation, restrictions on movement or residence, safety zones and priority access for water, energy and transport. Lawful orders during these situations can include evacuation or compliance with safety restrictions, and failure to follow them may be criminally punishable. People and public or private organisations have duties to cooperate, follow prevention rules and comply with legitimate orders; people also have a right to local information about risks and protective measures. Evacuation normally follows a local warning, a community assessment of routes and safe shelters, and instructions delivered through leaders, loudspeakers, megaphones or household visits. The current collection point depends on the municipality and is not centrally verified for every area, so local authority instructions control. During the 2021 Dili emergency, records identified 22 reception centres and later 13 evacuation centres. After a disaster, households may seek shelter, food, water and sanitation, protection, logistics support and restoration of basic infrastructure through APC, municipalities, sucos, CVTL and humanitarian partners. Assistance generally depends on the event, an officially recognised situation, damage assessment and household or community needs. No single nationwide list of benefits or general flat compensation payment has been established. Remote and rural communities may face delays because of transport and communications problems. Recovery is led within APC's recovery structure and uses damage and loss records disaggregated by sex, age and disability. Measures include safe return, early recovery, livelihood support and infrastructure rehabilitation. Following the 2021 floods, the government prohibited building or reconstruction in flood zones and on slopes with medium to very high instability risk. A 2020-2026 Green Climate Fund and UNDP framework planned or implemented 130 climate-resilient small infrastructure projects in six municipalities, including 38 water systems, 25 irrigation systems, 216 kilometres of rural roads and 20 flood-protection structures. Roads and bridges, water, energy, communications, schools, health facilities and emergency shelters receive priority in risk planning.