Asian nations 'face greatest natural disaster risk'
Mark Kinver
August 15, 2012
Emerging economies in Asia, including India and the Philippines, face the greatest financial risk from natural disasters, an analysis suggests.
Mark Kinver
August 15, 2012
Emerging economies in Asia, including India and the Philippines, face the greatest financial risk from natural disasters, an analysis suggests.
SOPHIA LI
August 13, 2012
Groundwater depletion is particularly severe in places including California’s Central Valley, the Upper Ganges in India and Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia, researchers report.
Drought conditions have been at record levels in the contiguous United States for much of July, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center, which began monitoring drought conditions in 1999.
Robert Bowen
AP reported today that thousands of fish died just last week in the Midwestern United States because the heat wave made the rivers too hot. At the same time a leading scientist said statistical analysis confirms the blistering heat is a result of climate change.
The actual risk for a country to suffer in a long term from a natural disaster depends on the actual exposure but also on the vulnerability of a society (how can they cope and adapt to the event). Central America as well as big parts of Africa and Asia are at high risk to suffer for a long term from natural disasters.
Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan 2011 on the first place with a total damage of about 230 billion dollars. Equal cost damage of natural disaster have different impacts on economies depending on their economic power (GDP)!
Over the 20 last years about 2/3 of the world population were exposed to natural disaster. Most of them are affected by floods and droughts. 1.3 million have been killed, whereas far most of them by earthquakes.
Most of the shown natural disaster happened on islands, near the sea and at tectonic borders. Overall loss ranges from 8 - 125 billion USD. Damage partly insured. Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Hurricane have the biggest potential to destroy facilities.
These were the current situation in 2009. Most part of Asia, North and South America and Africa are suffering from agricultural droughts.
The size of countries displayed is in proportion with the number of people who died from droughts there between 1975 and 2005. 98% of deaths: Ethiopia, Sudan and Mozambique.