Natural disasters: a comprehensive study using EMDAT database 1995-2022

D Tin; L Cheng; D Le; R Hata; G Ciottone

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2023.11.017

Natural disasters: a comprehensive study using EMDAT database 1995-2022

Public Health. 2024 Jan:226:255-260. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.11.017. Epub 2023 Dec 12.

Authors

D Tin¹, L Cheng², D Le³, R Hata⁴, G Ciottone⁵

Affiliations

¹ Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: dtin@bidmc.harvard.edu.
² Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
³ Alumni, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia.
⁴ Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave Fifth Third Bank Building 3rd Fl, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
⁵ Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

PMID: 38091814
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.11.017

Abstract

Introduction: The frequency, intensity, and geographical reach of natural disasters, fueled in part by factors such as climate change, population growth, and urbanization, have undeniably been escalating concerns around the world.

Design and methods: This is a retrospective analysis of natural disasters recorded in the Emergency Events Database from 1995 to 2022.

Results: Between 1995 and 2022, 11,360 natural disasters occurred, with a mean of 398 per year. Asia experienced the most disasters (4390) and the highest number of casualties (918,198). Hydrological disasters were the most common subgroup (4969), while geophysical disasters led in terms of deaths (770,644). Biological disasters caused the most injuries (2544), particularly in Africa.

Conclusion: Recognizing the historical impacts of the various subtypes of natural disasters may help different regions better risk analyze and mitigate the unique risks associated with such events.

Keywords: Earthquakes; Floods; Mitigation; Natural disasters; Response.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Asia
Disasters*
Floods
Humans
Natural Disasters*
Retrospective Studies
Urbanization