the Phillipines- multi hazardous zone

Question 1

where is the Philippines located?

Answer 1

the Philippines is a country off the mainland of south east Asia consisting of over 7000 islands.

Question 2

why is the Philippines prone to natural disasters.

Answer 2

the Philippines is located on the western rim of the ‘Pacific Ring of fire’ which brings about multiple hazards including volcanos and earthquakes. Furthermore, the Philippines is situated in an area where tropical storms come from across the Pacific to southeast Asia, which makes the Philippines the most exposed country in the world.

Question 3

describe the Philippines volcanic activity

Answer 3

the Philippines has roughly 23 active volcanoes.
for example:
mount Pinatubo- erupted in 1991, being the second largest eruption on the planet.
Mayon volcano- the most active, having erupted almost 50 times in the past 400 years.

Question 4

describe the earthquake activity in the Philippines.

Answer 4

earthquakes are fairly common in the Philippines. Between 2000 and 2013, there were 17 earthquakes all with a minimum magnitude of 5.6.
1976- earthquake just off Mindanao with a magnitude of 7.9 killed 8,000 people.
1990- earthquake in Luzon with magnitude of 7.8 killed over 1,600 people.

Question 5

describe the tropical storm activity in the Philippines

Answer 5

tropical storms cross the country annually bringing with them the risk of flooding, landslides and lahars (if combined with volcanic eruptions).
Typhon Haiyan in November 2013 killed 6,340.

Question 6

what is an economic impact of the Philippines being a multi-hazardous zone?

Answer 6

79% of economic losses came from tropical storms, and 17.3% of the economic losses came from flooding.

Question 7

what is a social impact of the Philippine being a multi-hazardous zone?

Answer 7

78.7% of mortality losses came from tropical storms, with earthquakes killing 7.9%