Multi Hazard Environment Flashcards
Location
The Philippines is a group of islands in south-east Asia. The area is vulnerable to a variety of hazards with social, economic and environmental impacts
Volcanoes
The Philippines is near to a destructive plate boundary, where the Philippine plate is being subducted beneath the Eurasian plate. E.g. Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991 more than 700 people died, around 200 000 were left homeless, buildings collapsed, crops were destroyed and agricultural land was ruined by falling ash.
Seismic hazards
Earthquakes occur along the plate boundary and at fault lines where the plate has cracked under pressure. E.g. an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 occurred on Luzon island in 1990, killing over 1500 people. Earthquakes in the surrounding oceans can cause tsunamis, e.g. in 1976, an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 caused a tsunami that hit the coastline around the Moro Gulf. Thousands were killed and several cities were devastated.
Tropical Storms
The Philippines has around 10 tropical storms every year. They develop in the Pacific Ocean and move westwards over the islands. E.g. Typhoon Xangsane swept across Manila and the surrounding densely populated area in 2006. High winds and torrential rain destroyed homes and caused flooding, landslides and the loss of power and water. Around 200 people died, and the total cost of the tropical storm was over US $130 million.
How Communities prepare
Communities often understand the risks of hazards, having experienced them before. In many cases, people prepare for hazards themselves, e.g. by widening rivers near settlements to prevent flooding, and by stockpiling food. In this way, individuals and communities increase their own resilience.
The past
In the past, funding for dealing with disasters was only available after the disaster occurred - this meant that the response focused on reacting to a disaster that had happened, rather than trying to prevent or prepare for future disasters.
