Natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tropical cyclones, are a part of the planet we live on. They are constantly occurring somewhere in the world. While many times they don't cause serious damage, occasionally their intensity is such that they cause significant losses. To better understand the most devastating natural disasters that affect the world, it is essential to observe how their impact on the population evolves.
The new edition of the European Commission Joint Research Centre's Human Planet Atlas reveals that the number of people living in seismic zones has steadily increased, to the point that an estimated 2.700 billion are exposed to earthquakes alone . This figure underscores the urgent need for information about earthquakes and how they affect the lives of millions.
The atlas, which covers the six most significant natural hazards—earthquakes, volcanoes, tropical cyclone winds, cyclone surges, and floods—examines human exposure to these phenomena and how it has changed over the past 40 years. It reveals that many more people live exposed to seismic activity than to tsunamis or any other hazard. The number of people living in seismic zones has increased by 93% in these four decades, rising from 1,4 billion in 1975 to 2,7 billion in 2015. In this context, it is vital to assess the relationship between earthquakes and tsunamis, given that these two phenomena are interconnected. For more details, you can read about earthquakes and tsunamis.
In Europe, more than 170 million people are potentially exposed to earthquakes , representing a quarter of the total population. In Italy, Romania, and Greece, the proportion of the exposed population exceeds 80%. But earthquakes are not the only problem facing Europeans: eleven million of them live within 100 kilometers of an active volcano , whose eruptions can affect housing, air travel, and daily life. This situation highlights the importance of understanding ethical recovery projects in areas affected by natural disasters, as well as the worst natural disasters of 2016.
Tsunamis affect many coastal regions, especially in Asia and particularly in Japan , where they occur most frequently , followed by China and the United States. Floods, on the other hand, are the most common natural disaster in Asia (76,9% of the world's population exposed) and Africa (12,2%). To learn more about floods, you can consult studies on their impact in different regions, as well as analyze the economic consequences of the natural disasters mentioned in flood reports.
Tropical cyclone winds pose a threat to 1.600 billion people in 89 countries , 600 million more than in 1975. In 2015, 640 million people were exposed to particularly strong cyclonic winds, especially in China and Japan. In China, 50 million are exposed to storm surges resulting from these cyclones, an increase of almost 20 million over the past four decades. The assessment of these phenomena is complemented by information on mangroves as a natural barrier against hurricanes and cyclones, highlighting the importance of considering these elements in the analysis of the most devastating natural disasters.
This global analysis is very important, as it helps us better understand how different phenomena affect the world . It is also useful for governments in different countries to take effective measures to protect their populations. Knowing the history of other disasters is fundamental, and monitoring events like the major natural disasters of September 2017 can offer valuable lessons.
You can read the study here.
