Natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tropical cyclones, are part of the planet we live on. They are constantly occurring somewhere in the world. While they often do not cause serious damage, occasionally their intensity is such that they cause significant losses. To better understand the most devastating natural disasters in the world that affect the world, it is essential to observe the evolution of their impact on the population.
In the new edition of the Atlas of the Human Planet of the European Commission Joint Research Center, it is revealed that the number of people living in seismic zones has only increased, to the point that estimates that there are 2.700 billion who are exposed only to earthquakesThis figure highlights the need for information about these issues and how they affect the lives of millions.
The atlas, which covers the six most important natural hazards: earthquakes, volcanoes, tropical cyclone winds, cyclone surges, and floods, examines human exposure to these phenomena and how it has evolved over the past 40 years. They have found that many people are exposed to seismic activity, even more than to tsunamis or any other hazard. The number of humans living in seismic zones has increased by 93% in these four decades, going 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 both phenomena are connected. For more details, you can read about earthquakes and tsunamis.
In Europe, more than 170 million people are potentially exposed to earthquakes, which represents a quarter of the total population. In Italy, Romania and Greece the proportion of the exposed population in the total population exceeds 80%. But earthquakes are not the only problem for Europeans: eleven million of them live within 100 kilometers of an active volcano, whose eruptions can affect housing, air transport and daily routine. This situation highlights the importance of knowing the ethical projects for recovery in areas affected by natural disasters, as well as worst natural disasters of 2016.
On Tsunami affect many coastal regions, especially in Asia and especially in Japan, which is where they occur most frequently in China and the United States. Floods are the most frequent natural disaster in Asia (76,9% of the world's exposed population) and Africa (12,2%). To delve deeper into the topic of floods, you can consult studies on their impact in different regions, as well as analyze the economic consequences of natural disasters that are mentioned in flood reports.
Tropical cyclone winds threaten 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 people are exposed to storm surges as a result of 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 natural protection against hurricanes and cyclones, which highlights the importance of taking these elements into account in the analysis of the most devastating natural disasters.
This global analysis is very important, as it helps us to better understand how different phenomena affect the world. It is also useful for governments of different countries to take effective measures to protect their populations. Knowing the history of other disasters is essential, and monitoring events such as The major natural disasters of September 2017 can offer valuable lessons.
You can read the study here.
