ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Natural Disasters in 2007: An Analytical Overview
Chapter 1: Impact of Natural Disasters
This chapter deals with the overall trends in natural disasters and their impacts for the year
2007. It also addresses regional perspectives on disasters based on disaster types and discusses thevulnerability to natural disasters, especially in the Asian region.

1.1 Trends in Natural Disaster Damage and Characteristics
The following figures (Figures 1, 2, and 3) and summary tables (Tables 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A,
and 3B) indicate an increasing trend in the occurrence of natural disasters over the last three decades.
This might be attributed to various factors, such as global climate change, environmental andecological imbalances, increasing population density, ad-hoc urbanization, deforestation, anddesertification. Compounded by these factors, natural disasters are resulting in an increased level ofhuman suffering, loss of life, and economic losses. It is noteworthy to mention that the worldwide
total1 affected population in the year 2007 was about 3.0% of the world population (an increase of
43% over 2006) and the total worldwide economic damage in the year 2007 exceeded the GDP(purchasing power parity) 2 of certain developing countries in the Asia-Pacific and Africa,
underscoring the importance of natural disaster mitigation strategies in these regions. For instance, thetotal amount of damage worldwide caused by natural disasters in the year 2007 was 11 times theannual GDP (PPP, 2007 estimate) of Mongolia and Swaziland, 6 times that of Tajikistan, Kyrgyz andFiji, 5 times that of Papua New Guinea, Laos and Niger, and 4 times that of Armenia. This is quite anotable increase when compared against 2006. There were also considerable decreases in the numberof disasters that occurred (6%) and the number of killed people (20%). But the number of total
affected people in 2007 increased by 47% over the 2006 figure, and the amount of economic damage
incurred registered an alarming increase of 217% over the year 2006. In recent years, 2005 damages
were mainly due to the South Asian Earthquake in Pakistan and India, the event responsible for asignificant portion of the human losses in Asia, while last year (2006) was quite a calm year regarding
disaster occurrences and the monetary and human damages caused. But in 2007, due to the Japan(Niigata) earthquake, floods in China, Australia and UK; wildfires in USA, windstorms in Germany
1

According to CRED, Belgium, the total affected population includes the number of people

injured; number of people became homeless and number of people affected by various othermeans due to disasters.

１

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

and Bangladesh contributed to the severe monetary damage. Further windstorms and floods in
Bangladesh, China and India also contributed to the severe human sufferings and loss. This year’s(2007) statistics show that almost 60% of the people killed, 91% of total affected people and 47% of
the damage worldwide are in Asia. This once again clearly underscores the vulnerability of the region.
This regional trend is quite alarming and represents a considerable obstacle to any development
activities in the affected countries from the perspective of sustainable development and recovery
efforts.

Table 1A: Summary of Natural Disasters, 1975-2007

Asia

World

Count of
DisNo

Sum of Killed

Sum of TotAff

Sum of Damage
US$ ('000s)

3,438

1,281,189

5,047,632,951

594,334,344

37.34%

57.24%

88.94%

44.57%

9,207

2,238,319

5,675,595,783

1,333,357,184

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Table 1B: Summary of Natural Disasters, 2007

Asia

World

Number ofDisasters

Sum of Killed

Sum of TotAff

Sum of Damage
US$ ('000s)

149

13,130179,803,097

29,634,403

34.57%

59.92%

90.72%

47.24%

431

21,911

198,203,774

62,726,300

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain , Brussels, Belgium, 2007

The following figures show the increasing trend in natural disasters, the number of total
affected people, and the amount of damage from 1975 to 2007.

2

We used GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate data from the World Fact Book.

２

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Figure 1

Number of Disasters (World) (1975-2007)
600

N u m b e r o f D is a s te rs

500

400

300

200

100

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2000

2001

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

0
Year

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 2

Total Affected People (Millions) (World) (1975-2007)
700

T o ta l A ffe c te d P e o p le

600
500
400
300
200
100

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

0
Year

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

３

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Figure 3

Amount of Damage (US$Bn) (World) (1975-2007)
200
180

A m o u n t o f D am ag e

160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

0
Year

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

The following tables show regional disaster characteristics in relation to various types ofdisaster for the periods 1975-2007. Tables 2A and 3A in particular show this trend for the 33 years
from 1975-2007while Tables 2B and 3B show figures for 2007 only.

４ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Table 2A: Summary of Natural Disasters by Region, 1975-2007
Continent
AfricaAfrica Total
Americas

DisTypeDrought
Earthquake
Epidemic
Extreme Temperature
Famine (natural)
Flood
Insect infestation
Slide
VolcanoWild fireWind storm
Wave / Surge
Drought
Earthquake
Epidemic
Extreme Temperature
Famine (natural)
Flood
Insect infestation
Slide
VolcanoWild fireWind storm
Wave / Surge

Americas Total
Asia
Drought
Earthquake
Epidemic
Extreme Temperature
Famine (natural)
Flood
Insect infestation
Slide
VolcanoWild fireWind storm
Wave / Surge
Asia Total
EuropeDrought
Earthquake
Epidemic
Extreme Temperature
Famine (natural)
Flood
Insect infestation
Slide
VolcanoWild fireWind storm
Wave / Surge
Europe Total
Oceania
Drought
Earthquake
Epidemic
Extreme Temperature
Flood
Insect infestation
Slide
VolcanoWild fireWind storm
Wave / Surge
Oceania Total
Grand Total

Count
of
DisNo
334
55
575
11
34
571
68
25
14
18
150
5
1,860
100
161
73
72
2
684
3
114
55
105
718
5
2,092
139
412
250
111
10
1,189
9
246
62
61
925
24
3,438
31
159
30
162
2
386
1
48
16
90
321
1
1,247
25
87
7
4
152
1
18
14
34
225
3
570
9,207

Sum of
Sum of TotAff Damage US$('000s)560,640
311,379,799
4,051,193
6,719
1,516,616
8,725,608
116,478
10,742,661
4,730
231
1,000,218
47,8096,087
31,607,592
89,00016,51040,762,262
3,536,316
446,000
5,200
572
20,3102,157
463,160
156
20,215
3,500
3,469
11,587,644
3,038,073
324
109,91330,000713,343
409,656,390
19,531,429
79
51,069,164
13,057,539
43,843
12,230,548
56,720,010
14,347
1,626,638
5,485
4,974,040
13,911,250
1,003,000
51,33747,353,328
57,306,219
2,000
104,000
5,226
1,168,028
1,085,200
22,0101,553,175
2,029,022
182
1,140,071
8,212,700
39,45744,186,489
312,010,487
1,274
8,844
183,240
166,315,325
464,436,427
3,928 1,425,115,138
14,379,391
557,22975,169,546
264,243,140
45,7277,200,142
19,80250,815,738
5,042,887
760
8,670,000
4,399
141,713 2,812,830,959
169,784,208
200
925
16,8985,873,434
477,0341,430
2,240,626
579,149451
3,246,135
19,249,500
260,580
654,062,924
112,789,314
232,6712,408,109
7,784,397
1,281,189 5,047,632,951
594,334,344
7,062,575
14,416,309
8,706
2,842,476
34,404,776
648
186,508
39,157
849,919
3,316,088
3,210,000
3,211
7,946,103
132,080,842
Sum ofKilled

1,177
9
419
2,049
11
55,387
98
586
288
23
264

39,4587,024
1,138,093
8,651,954
2
31,934,112
8,653,635
81,3874,850
4,600,784
539,046444
10,615
9
227,722
134
76,310880
5,850,405
2,434
12,251
5,160
20,057,005
2,238,319 5,675,595,783

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

５

1,669,389
19,6004,066,853
37,333,948
227,307,805
11,006,000
2,507,400

3,848,937
120,000
2,466
400,000
1,182,006
8,680,370
27,747,179
1,333,357,184

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Table 2B: Summary of Natural Disasters by Region, 2007

Continent
AfricaDisTypeDrought
Epidemic
Flood
Slide
VolcanoWild fireWind storm
Extreme temp
Wave / Surge

Africa Total
AmericasDrought
Earthquake
Epidemic
Flood
Slide
VolcanoWild fireWind storm
Extreme temp
Americas Total
Asia
Drought
Earthquake
Epidemic
Flood
Slide
VolcanoWild fireWind storm
Extreme temp
Wave / Surge
Asia Total
EuropeEarthquake
Epidemic
Flood
Wild fireWind storm
Extreme temp
Europe Total
Oceania
Earthquake
Flood
Wind storm
Wave / Surge
Oceania Total
Grand Total

Count of
DisNo
6
19
59
1
1
4
9
1
1
101
3
8
1
38
2
1
4
37
5
99
1
9
10
83
7
4
1
29
4
1
149
1
2
23
9
22
14
71
1
3
6
1
11
431

Sum ofKilled
4,433
857
20
5
36
111
13
12
5,487
532
1
666
16
17
699
82
2,013
119
798
6,749
228
6
1
4,918
311
13,130
2
172
95
97
75
605
1,046
1
15
167
52
235
21,911

Sum of TotAff

Sum of Damage
US$ ('000s)

4,067,750
110,237
4,713,456
6
2,000
3,505
389,000

9,285,954
1,000,000
507,455
228
3,415,533
5,000
3,000
775,759
942,071884,572
7,533,618
701,034
332,579
156,114,983
3,993
45,96350
22,467,924
103,000
33,571
179,803,097
167
419
412,903
1,005,506
9,634
491
1,429,120
100
5,900
143,601
2,384
151,985
198,203,774

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

６

343,241

241,200

584,4413,444,322

2,530,000
6,164,126
12,138,448
12,974,000
7,569,423

9,090,980

29,634,403

8,606,752
948,604
8,776,000
18,331,356
1,737,000
300,652
2,037,652
62,726,300

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Table 3A: Summary of Natural Disasters by Disaster Type, 1975-2007
DisTypeDrought

Drought Total
Earthquake

Earthquake Total
Epidemic

Epidemic Total
Extreme TemperatureContinent
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania

AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
Extreme Temperature Total
Famine (natural)
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeFamine (natural) Total
Flood
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
Flood Total
Insect infestation
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
Insect infestation Total
Slide
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
Slide Total
VolcanoAfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
Volcano Total
Wild fire
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
Wild fire Total
Wind storm
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceaniaWind storm Total
Wave / Surge
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
Wave / Surge Total
Grand Total

Count of
DisNo
334
100
139
31
25
629
55
161
412
159
87
874
575
73
250
30
7
935
11
72
111
162
4
360
34
2
10
2
48
571
684
1,189
386
152
2,982
68
3
9
1
1
82
25
114
246
48
18
451
14
55
62
16
14
161
18
105
61
90
34
308
150
718
925
321
225
2,339
5
5
24
1
3
38
9,207

Sum of Killed

Sum of TotAff

560,640
79
3,928

311,379,799
51,069,164
1,425,115,138
7,062,575
8,653,635
1,803,280,311
1,516,616
12,230,548
75,169,546
2,842,476
81,387
91,840,573
10,742,661
1,626,638
7,200,142
186,508
4,850
19,760,799
1,000,218
4,974,040
50,815,738
849,9194,600,784
62,240,699
31,607,592
1,003,000
8,670,000
3,210,000
44,490,592
40,762,262
47,353,328
2,812,830,959
7,946,103
539,046
2,909,431,698
446,000
2,000
200

98
564,7456,719
43,843557,2298,706
586
617,083
116,478
14,34745,727648
288
177,488
231
5,485
19,80239,15723
64,698
6,087
760
6,847
16,51051,337
141,7133,211
264
213,035572
5,226
16,8981,177
444
24,3172,157
22,0101,430
9925,615
156
182
451
419
134
1,342
3,469
39,457
260,5802,049
880
306,435
324
1,274
232,671
11
2,434
236,7142,238,319

448,200
20,3101,168,028
5,873,434
39,458
10,615
7,111,845
463,160
1,553,175
2,240,626
7,024
227,722
4,491,707
20,2151,140,071
3,246,135
1,138,093
76,3105,620,824
11,587,644
44,186,489
654,062,924
8,651,954
5,850,405
724,339,416
109,9138,844
2,408,109
2
12,2512,539,119
5,675,595,783

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

７

Sum ofDamageUS$('000s)
4,051,193
13,057,539
14,379,391
14,416,309
11,006,000
56,910,432
8,725,608
56,720,010
264,243,140
34,404,776
2,507,400
366,600,934
4,730

4,730
47,80913,911,250
5,042,887
3,316,088
22,318,034
89,0004,399
93,3993,536,316
57,306,219
169,784,208
132,080,842
3,848,937
366,556,522
5,200
104,000
925
120,000
230,125
1,085,200
477,034
1,669,389
2,466
3,234,089
2,029,022
579,149
19,600400,000
3,027,771
3,500
8,212,700
19,249,500
4,066,853
1,182,006
32,714,559
3,038,073
312,010,487
112,789,314
37,333,948
8,680,370
473,852,192
30,0007,784,397

7,814,397
1,333,357,184

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Table 3B: Summary of Natural Disasters by Disaster Type, 2007
DisTypeDrought

Drought Total
Earthquake

Earthquake Total
Epidemic

Epidemic Total
Flood

Flood Total
Slide

Slide Total
VolcanoVolcano Total
W ild fire

Wild fire Total
W ind storm

Wind storm Total
Extreme temp

Continent
AfricaAmericas
Asia
Americas
Asia
EuropeOceania
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeAfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
AfricaAmericas
Asia
AfricaAmericas
Asia
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeAfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeOceania
AfricaAmericas
Asia
EuropeExtreme temp Total
W ave / Surge
AfricaAsia
Oceania
Wave / Surge Total
Grand Total

Count of
DisNo
6
3
1
10
8
9
1
1
19
19
1
10
2
32
59
38
83
23
3
206
1
2
7
10
1
1
4
6
4
4
1
9
18
9
37
29
22
6
103
1
5
4
14
24
1
1
1
3
431

Sum ofKilledSum of TotAff
4,067,750
1,000,000

532
119
2
1
654
4,433
1
798
172
5,404
857
666
6,749
95
15
8,382
20
16
228
264
5
6
11
36
17
1
97
151
111
699
4,918
75
167
5,970
13
82
311
605
1,011
12
52
64
21,911

5,067,750
507,455
701,034167
100
1,208,756
110,237
228
332,579419
443,463
4,713,456
3,415,533
156,114,983
412,903
5,900
164,662,775
6
5,000
3,993
8,999
2,000
3,000
45,96350,963
3,505
775,75950
1,005,506
1,784,820
389,000
942,071
22,467,924
9,634
143,601
23,952,230

12,974,000

12,974,000

343,2413,444,322
7,569,423
8,606,752
1,737,000
21,700,738

2,530,000
948,604
3,478,604
241,200
6,164,126
9,090,980
8,776,000
300,652
24,572,958

884,572
103,000
491
988,063
33,571
2,384
35,955
198,203,774

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

８

Sum ofDamage US$('000s)62,726,300

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

1.2 Regional Vulnerability: Disaster-Prone Asia
The years 2004 and 2005 were particularly disastrous years for Asia due to the Indian Ocean
Tsunami, South Asian Earthquake as well as other earthquakes, wind storms, and floods. The year
2006 was likewise disastrous as a result of the earthquake plus tsunami in Indonesia, flood in China
and India and Cyclone and landslide in Philippines, which accounted for almost 59% of thedisaster-related human losses in the world. Similarly the year 2007 was also heavily disastrous in Asia.
Floods in China, Bangladesh and India; windstorms in Bangladesh heavily contributed to the humanloss and sufferings in Asia while an earthquake in Japan, floods in China and Bangladesh also
contributed to the heavy monetary losses. The statistics make the region's vulnerability to natural
disasters quite evident. The majority of human losses and suffering and noticeably considerable shareof economic losses, were reported in this region in 2007, as had been the case in previous years.
Specifically, nearly 91% (up 2% from 2006) of the total affected people and 60% (up 1% from 2006)of the human losses were reported in Asia. Further 47% of the reported economic damage also camefrom Asia followed by Europe, Americas, Oceania, and Africa . These losses were due to the natural
disasters that hit China, India, Bangladesh, and Korea (windstorms and flood) in addition to Japan’s
Niigata earthquake caused the biggest economic damage in the year. These disasters once again
highlighted for the world the region’s vulnerability to such a disaster.
Outside of Asia, disaster damages were also reported from the Germany, UK, USA, andAustralia. This year also, Africa was subjected to epidemics, floods, and droughts which affected
millions of people in the region. Like last year, Europe again experienced extreme temperatures,
floods, and wind storms which caused considerable human and economic losses.
The following figures from 4A to 7B show the regional trends for 2007 as well as for theperiod 1975-2007. Figures 8A to 11C show trends by disaster type for 2007 and for the 1975-2007
period, for the world and the Asian region. We have included figures not only for the year 2007, butalso for the 33-year period from 1975 to 2007. This will provide a better understanding of the situation
and a useful basis for comparison.

９ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Figure 4A

Number of Disasters (World/Region) (1975-2007)

Europe13.54%

Oceania
6.19%

Africa20.20%

Americas22.72%
Asia
37.34%TOTAL = 9,207

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 4B

Number of Disasters (World/Region) 2007

Europe16.47%

Oceania
2.55%

Africa23.43%

Americas22.97%

Asia
34.57%TOTAL = 431

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

１０

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Figure 5A

Number of Killed (World/Region) (1975-2007)

Europe2.47%

Oceania0.23%

Africa31.87%

Americas
8.19%

Asia
57.24%TOTAL = 2.2 Million People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 5B

Number of Killed (World/Region) 2007

Europe4.77%

Oceania
1.07%

Africa25.04%

aAmericas
9.19%

Asia
59.92%TOTAL = 21,911 People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

１１

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Figure 6A

Number of Total Affected People(World/Region) (1975-2007)
Europe0.56%

Oceania0.35%

Africa7.22%

Americas
2.93%

a

Asia
88.94%TOTAL = 5.7 Billion People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 6B

Number of Total Affected People (World/Region)
2007

Europe0.72%

Oceania0.08%

Asia
90.72%

Africa4.69%

Americas
3.80%

TOTAL = 198 Million People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

１２

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

Figure 7A

Amount of Damage (World/Region) (1975-2007)

Europe17.05%

Oceania
2.08%

Africa1.46%

Americas34.83%

Asia
44.57%TOTAL = 1.33 Trillion US$

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 7B

Amount of Damage (World/Region) 2007

Oceania
3.25%

Africa0.93%

Europe29.22%

Asia
47.24%

Americas19.35%TOTAL = 62.7 Billion US$

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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Figure 8A

Number of Disasters (World/Disaster Type) (1975-2007)

Drought
6.8%

Wind storm
25.4%

Earthquake
9.5%

Wild fire
3.3%

Epidemic
10.2%

ExtremeTemperature
3.9%

Volcano
1.7%

Slide
4.9%

TOTAL = 9,207
Insect infestation
0.9%

Flood
32.4%

TOTAL = 9,207
Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 8B
Number of Disasters (World/Disaster Type) 2007

Wave / Surge
0.7%
Drought
Extreme temp
2.3%
5.6%

Earthquake
4.4%
Epidemic
7.4%

Wind storm
23.9%

Flood
47.8%

Slide
2.3%

Wild fire
4.2%
Volcano
1.4%

TOTAL = 431

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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Figure 8C
Number of Disasters Occurred in Asia
(Disaster Type) 2007

Wave / Surge
0.7%

Drought
0.7%

Extreme temp
2.7%

Earthquake
6.0%

Wind storm
19.5%

Epidemic
6.7%

Wild fire
0.7%

Volcano
2.7%

Flood
55.7%
Slide
4.7%

TOTAL = 149

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 9A

Number of Killed (World/Disaster Type) (1975-2007)

Wave / Surge
10.6%

Wind storm
13.7%

Volcano1.1%

Drought
25.2%

Slide
1.1%
Earthquake
27.6%

Flood
9.5%
ExtremeTemperature
2.9%

Epidemic
7.9%

TOTAL = 2.2 Million People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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Figure 9B

Number of Killed (World/Disaster Type) 2007

Extreme temp
4.6%

Wave / Surge
0.3%

Earthquake
3.0%

Wind storm
27.2%

Epidemic
24.7%

Wild fire
0.7%
Slide
1.2%

Flood
38.3%

TOTAL = 21,911 People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 9C
Number of People Killed in Asia (Disaster Type) 2007

Earthquake
0.9%

Epidemic
6.1%

Extreme temp
2.4%
Wind storm
37.5%

Slide
1.7%

Flood
51.4%

TOTAL = 13,130 People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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Figure 10A

Number of Total Affected People(World/Disaster Type) (1975-2007)

Wind storm
12.8%

Wild fire
0.1%

Drought
31.8%

Volcano0.1%

Earthquake
1.6%
Epidemic
0.3%

Famine (natural)
0.8%

Flood
51.3%

ExtremeTemperature
1.1%

TOTAL = 5.7 Billion People
Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 10B

Number of Total Affected People (World/Disaster Type) 2007
Drought
2.6%

Extreme temp
0.5%

Earthquake
0.6%

Wind storm
12.1%

Epidemic
0.2%

Wild fire
0.9%

Flood
83.1%

TOTAL = 198 Million People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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Figure 10C
Number of Total Affected People in Asia
(Disaster Type) 2007

Wind storm
12.5%

Epidemic
0.2%

Earthquake
0.4%

Flood
86.8%

TOTAL = 180 Million People

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 11A

Amount of Damage (World/Disaster Type) (1975-2007)

Drought
4.3%

Wind storm
35.5%

Earthquake
27.5%

Wild fire
2.5%

ExtremeTemperature
1.7%

Wave / Surge
0.6%
Volcano
0.2%

Slide
0.2%

Flood
27.5%

TOTAL = 1.33 Trillion US$

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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Figure 11B

Amount of Damage (World/Disaster Type) 2007

Earthquake
20.68%
Wind storm
38%

Flood
34.60%
Wild fire
5.55%

TOTAL = 63 Billion US$

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

Figure 11C
Amount of Damage in Asia (Disaster Type) 2007

Earthquake
43.8%

Wind storm
30.7%

Flood
25.5%

TOTAL = 30 Billion US$

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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Based on data related to disaster types and their impact on societies and economies in 2007,
we can conclude that the Asian region has been deeply affected by both geo-physical disasters likeearthquakes, as well as hydro-meteorological disasters like floods and wind storms. Similar toprevious years, in 2007 also, Asia mainly experienced earthquake, windstorms, and floods, and thesewere really harmful to the development in the region. A comparative analysis can be made from past
analytical studies of disasters and the ADRC’s “20th Century Asian Natural Disasters Data Book.”
Socio-economic and cultural dimensions specific to the Asian region provide some explanation of thelarge number of affected people in spite of a relatively small amount of real economic damage ascompared to previous years. But the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the 2005 South Asian Earthquake,2006 disasters in China, Indonesia and Philippines, and 2007 floods and windstorms in China, India,
Bangladesh, and Japan earthquake changed this perception and prompted the Asian region to adopt
appropriate countermeasures. The great amount of human suffering and related financial losses in thisregion substantially hinders development activities. The above figures clearly illustrate this trend by
disaster type for Asia and the rest of the world. The following chapters will also help us better
understand regional differences in the characteristics of various types of disasters.

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1.3 Vulnerabilities of Countries with Small Economies and Populations

It is obvious that countries with small economies and populations suffer more, even when
only minor disasters occur. The following tables show the ranks of actual disasters in terms of thenumber of people killed, the number of people affected, and the amount of damage, as well as thechange in the actual (real) rank when compared to the population and GNI (Gross National
Income-Atlas method).3
Tables 4 to 9 show that while the actual damage in terms of human and economic losses are
small, the effects on the population and the country's economy can be large in comparison with the
population and GNI of these countries. Accordingly, this comparison reveals that countries withsmaller economies and populations can not bear heavy damage in terms of loss share to population and
GNI. For example, Table 4 ranks disaster events according to the number of people killed. Table 5ranks those events according to the ratio of people killed to the total population. In Table 5, we can see
African countries with smaller populations account for a larger share of human losses. While theDominica ranked at 285, Comoros at 100, Togo at 78, Solomon Islands at 70, Greece at 56, Guinea at
43, and Haiti at 42 in Table 4 (the actual number of people killed), they all were ranked within the top
25 in Table 5 based on the share of their human loss to their total population. Also, Tables 8 and 9
indicate the economic vulnerability of the small economies to natural disasters. Even the smallest real
economic damage is impacting heavily on the economy in the small economies as we see in the Table
9 where we compared the damage to the GNI of that country. Thus observations made from Tables 6, 7,
8, and 9 in terms of affected people and economic damage underscore the vulnerability of small states.

3

Here we used the values from World Bank, 2007 GNI data and definition on atlasmethod GNI calculation.

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Table 4: Top 25 Natural Disasters by Number of People Killed, 2007

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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Table 5: Top 25 Natural Disasters by the Ratio of People Killed to the Total Population, 2007

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

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Table 6: Top 25 Natural Disasters by the Number of Total Affected People, 2007

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

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Table 7: Top 25 Natural Disasters by the Ratio of Total Affected People to the Total Population,
2007

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

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Table 8: Top 25 Natural Disasters by the Amount of Damage, 2007

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

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Table 9: Top 25 Natural Disasters by the Ratio of Damage to GNI, 2007

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2007

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ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2007

Chapter 1

The above tables and figures clearly show the trends in natural disasters in Asia and aroundthe world, as well as the impacts and characteristics of those disasters in 2007. This chapter also
analyzed the vulnerability of the small states due to the small size of their populations and economies.
It is equally important to analyze the impact of disasters on economic development and efforts toachieve sustainable development in order to stimulate the development of effective disaster risk
management approaches. The following chapters will illustrate these issues in detail.

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