Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Chapter 4: Overview of Natural Disasters in Asian and ADRC
Member Countries
4.1 Types of Disasters and Their Effects on Asian and ADRC Member Countries

This section discusses the disaster patterns in Asian and ADRC member countries, using the 2005
disaster data from 21 of the ADRC’s 25 member countries (excluding Armenia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, andSingapore). There are no significant 2005 disasters recorded in the CRED-EM-DAT database for the
excluded countries.4 We will also be discussing the other Asian countries that reported disasters in 2005. All
the ADRC member countries are located in Asia except for Papua New Guinea (in Oceania) and Russia (inEurope). Table 16 shows the disasters that occurred in each member country, by disaster type.
China, which had one of the most disaster-affected populations in the world in 2005, wasseriously affected by drought. Droughts also affected Cambodia and Vietnam. Droughts did not affect anyother countries in Asia aside from these. This stands in contrast to 2004, when droughts only occurred in
China, but appears similar to the pattern that occurred in 2003, when droughts posed problems forIndonesia, Pakistan, and Russia.
Earthquakes had a strong impact in countries like Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, India, Iran,Japan, Pakistan, and Papua New Guinea in terms of both the numbers of affected people and the economic
ramifications. The South Asian earthquake that hit Pakistan and India was the world’s worst disaster in2005 in terms of human losses and economic damage. Indonesia and Iran also sustained considerable
human losses and economic damage due to earthquakes. The South Asian Earthquake produced some of thehighest levels of economic damage in the world and accounted for nearly 27% of the total economic
damage sustained by the ADRC member countries in 2005. About 90% of the human losses sustained in
Asia and the ADRC member countries were due to that quake. Earthquakes also had a considerable impact
on Japan, which had just gone through the 2004 Niigata earthquake.
Epidemics occurred in Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, East Timor, China, Pakistan, and Yemen
and had a significant impact in terms of total affected people. Also, a high number of people killed and total
affected people were attributed to epidemics in India.
Extreme temperatures caused human losses in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Russia.
The most frequent disasters in member countries are wind storms and floods. While the ADRC
member countries accounted for more than 80% of the total human losses in 2003, they accounted for only
2% of the human losses in 2004. In 2005, however, this increased to about 7%, the majority of which were
due to wind storms and floods. Furthermore, floods and wind storms accounted for about 90% of theaffected population in Asian and ADRC member countries in 2005, in contrast to 2004 when that figure
was only 21%. The data also shows that nearly 71% of the total economic losses in member countries were
due to floods and wind storms. The most severe damage in terms of human suffering and economic losses

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Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

occurred in member countries China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Thailand, andVietnam, though most member countries had some disaster impact. Landslides caused considerable humansuffering in India and Tajikistan.
Volcanic eruptions occurred in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, causing extensive humansuffering in terms of the total affected population. It is noteworthy to mention that these disasters did not
result in the loss of any human lives. Wild fires also caused human suffering in Korea.

Table 16: Natural Disasters in Asia and the ADRC Member Countries by Disaster Type (2005)

Sum ofDamageUS$ ('000s)

Disaster TypeCountry

Drought

Cambodia1

600,000

China, P Rep

2

7,774,000

Thailand10

250,000

Viet Nam

1

410,000

42,1205

8,784,000

292,120

Drought Total
Earthquake

Afghanistan

2

6

501

China, P Rep

2

16

634,009

India

1

1,309

156,622

Indonesia

2916

105,997

Iran, Islam Rep

4625

116,888

Japan

2

1

4,430

Pakistan

1

73,3382,869,142

Papua New
Guinea

1

1

200

15

76,212

3,887,789

Earthquake Total
Epidemic

Afghanistan

1

China, P Rep

1

38

168

East Timor

1

22

336

India

4

706

2,489

Indonesia

1

Pakistan

2

Yemen

1

Epidemic Total

4

Sum ofKilledSum ofTotally
Affected

Number ofDisasters

3,245

329
42

111
179

11

808

See Note 1 on page ii.

７７

6,857

80,0005,000,000

5,080,000

Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Sum ofKilledSum ofTotally
Affected

100

1,000

Sum ofDamageUS$ ('000s)

Disaster TypeCountry

Number ofDisasters

Extreme temp

Bangladesh

2

China, P Rep

1

India

2

509

Pakistan

1

106

Russia

1

84

7

799

1,400

Afghanistan

9

195

18,315

Bangladesh

355

1,150,000

Cambodia

1

16China, P Rep

11

1,106

Georgia

1

Hong Kong(China)

1

India

17

1,850

25,479,012

Indonesia

3154

20,790Iran, Islam Rep

4

109

4,750

Japan

1

900

Kazakhstan

1

25,000

Korea Dem P Rep

1

193

16,298

Korea, Rep

1

18

1,500

Kyrgyzstan

1

3

2,050

Malaysia2

1330,600

Nepal

2

51

31,600

Pakistan5624

7,527,023

Papua New
Guinea

1

1

2,493

Philippines2

5

193,046

515

Russia

5

22

9,045

23,668

Saudi Arabia

2

63

67

Sri Lanka

1

6

145,000

Taiwan (China)

1

16

2,700

62,000

Tajikistan

2

8

5,112

50,000Thailand2

76

251,526

14,900

Uzbekistan

1

Viet Nam

5

Extreme temp Total
Flood

200
200

35,048,995

3,672,050

2,500

5,823,000

7,662

2,660

1,500
184

７８

101,893

34,000Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Disaster TypeCountry

Number ofDisasters

Sum ofKilledSum ofTotally
Affected

Yemen

2

22

721

88

4,790

70,072,436

India

2

262

5,020

Indonesia

2

211

10

Myanmar1

17

16

Pakistan

1

25

Russia1

9

Tajikistan

1

16

1,953

Yemen

1

65

11

9

605

7,010

Flood Total
Slide

Slide Total
VolcanoIndonesia

1

26,000

Papua New
Guinea1

15,0002

41,000Volcano Total
Wild fireIndonesia

1

Korea, Rep

1

Malaysia

1

Thailand1

Wild fire Total
Wind storm

Sum ofDamageUS$ ('000s)
9,690,455

2,140

4

2,140

Afghanistan

1

260

22,656

Bangladesh

7

164

35,206China, P Rep

14

426

47,702,823

India

4

82

68,590Iran, Islam Rep

1

Japan

3

130

304,043

Korea, Rep

1

5

1,100

Pakistan

1

58

Philippines

2

18

Russia2

Taiwan (China)

3

13

339

40,000Thailand

2

10

3,500

246

Viet Nam

4

88

344,160

219,250

Wind storm Total

45

1,254

48,490,430

3,777,311

Grand Total

186

84,468131,293,062

18,839,886

3,480,915

8,000
36,90011
2

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2005

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Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

4.2 Disaster Profiles of the Asian and ADRC Member Countries
Table 17: Natural Disasters in Asia and the ADRC Member Countries by Country (2005)

Country

Disaster Type

Number ofDisasters

Sum ofKilledSum ofTotally
Affected

Earthquake

2

6

501

Epidemic

1

Flood

9

195

18,315Wind storm

1

260

22,65613461

44,717Extreme temp

2

100

1,000

Flood

3

55

1,150,000

Wind storm

7

16435,20612319

1,186,206

Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Total

Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Total

Cambodia
Cambodia

China, P Rep

1

Flood

1

16

2

16

Earthquake2

16

634,009

Epidemic

1

38

168

Extreme temp

1

Flood

11

1,106

35,048,995

3,672,050

Wind storm

14

426

47,702,823

3,480,915

31

1,586

91,160,195

7,152,965

1

22

336

1

22

336

Epidemic
Total

Georgia

Flood
Total

Hong Kong (China)
Hong Kong (China)
India

600,000

2

East Timor

Georgia

600,000

Drought

China, P Rep Total
East Timor

3,245

Drought
Total

Sum of Damage
US$ ('000s)

Flood
Total

7,774,000

200

1

2,500

1

2,500

1
1

Earthquake

1

1,309

156,622

Epidemic

4

706

2,489

Extreme temp

2

509

Flood

17

1,850

25,479,012

Slide

2

262

5,020

８０

5,823,000

Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Country

India

Disaster Type

Number ofDisasters

Sum ofKilledSum ofTotally
AffectedWind storm

4

82

68,59030

4,718

25,711,733

Earthquake

2916

105,997

Epidemic

1

Flood

3

154

20,790

Slide

2

211

10

Volcano1

Wild fire

1

Total

Indonesia

Indonesia

Total

Iran, Islam Rep

Japan

Japan

153,126

Earthquake

4625

116,888

Flood

4

109

4,750

Wind storm

1

Korea Dem P Rep
Korea, Rep

129,638

Earthquake

2

1

4,430

Flood

1

Wind storm

3

130

304,043

36,9006

131309,373

36,9001

25,0007,662

125,000

7,662

Flood

16,2981

193

16,298

Flood

1

18

1,500

Wild fire

1

Wind storm

1

5

1,100

3

23

4,740

1

3

2,050

2,660

1

3

2,050

2,660

Flood

2

13

30,600Wild fire1
3

13

30,600

1

17

16

1

17

16

2

51

31,600251

31,600

Total

Total

Malaysia
Malaysia

Total

Myanmar
Myanmar

Slide
Total

Nepal
Nepal

Flood
Total

900

193

Flood

Kyrgyzstan

80,0001

Korea, Rep Total
Kyrgyzstan

8,000
734

Total

Korea Dem P Rep

80,0009

Flood

Kazakhstan

26,000
1,281

Total

Kazakhstan

5,823,000

329

10

Iran, Islam Rep Total

Sum of Damage
US$ ('000s)

８１

2,140

Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Country

Disaster Type

Number ofDisasters

Sum ofKilledSum ofTotally
Affected

Sum of Damage
US$ ('000s)

Earthquake

1

73,3382,869,142

5,000,000

Epidemic

2

42

111

Extreme temp

1

106

200

Flood

5

624

7,527,023

Slide

1

25

Wind storm

1

58

11

74,193

10,396,476

Earthquake

1

1

200

Flood

1

1

2,493

Volcano1

Pakistan

Pakistan

Total

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Total

Philippines
Philippines

RussiaSaudi Arabia

17,693

Flood

2

5

193,046

Wind storm

2

18

11

4

23

193,057

515

Extreme temp

1

84

Flood

5

22

9,045

23,668

Slide

1

9

Wind storm

2

Sri Lanka

2

63

67

2

63

67

1

6

145,000

1

6145,000

Flood

1

16

2,700

62,000Wind storm

3

13

339

40,000

4

29

3,039

102,000

Flood

2

8

5,112

50,000

Slide

1

16

1,953

3

24

7,065

Total

Tajikistan
Tajikistan

9,047

Flood

Taiwan (China)

Total

Total

Thailand

Total

2
115

Total

Taiwan (China)

515

9
Flood

Sri Lanka

Thailand2

Total

Saudi Arabia

15,0003

Total

Russia5,000,000

Drought

1

Flood

2

Wild fire

1

Wind storm

23,66850,000250,00076

251,526

14,900

2

10

3,500

246

6

86

255,026

265,146

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Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Country
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Viet Nam

Viet Nam

Yemen

Flood

1

1,500

1

1,500

Drought1410,000

42,120

Flood

5

184

101,893

34,000Wind storm

4

88

344,160

219,25010272

856,053

295,370

Total

Yemen

Sum of Damage
US$ ('000s)

Disaster TypeTotal

Sum ofKilledSum ofTotally
Affected

Number ofDisasters

Epidemic

1

Flood

2

22

721

Slide

1

65

11

4

87

911

186

84,468131,293,062

Total

Grand Total

179

18,839,886

Source: CRED-EMDAT, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2005

Table 16 shows the effects of the various types of natural disasters that occurred in the affected
countries, and Table 17 shows the types of natural disasters that occurred by country.
In Afghanistan, wind storms and floods resulted in considerable human suffering. Earthquakes
and epidemics also had a moderate impact.
In Bangladesh, floods, and wind storms caused considerable human suffering and loss of life. As
in 2004, the most destructive disaster type in 2005 was floods. Bangladesh lies along the path of cyclones
generated in the Bay of Bengal, making the country particularly prone to hydro-meteorological disasters.
Cambodia recorded heavy human suffering due to drought, though no loss of life was reported.
Floods affected Cambodia and loss of life was reported.
China experienced almost every type of disaster, as the country encompasses a vast area with alarge population. The most severe disasters in China in 2005 were floods and wind storms, followed bydroughts. Earthquakes also had a considerable impact on the population. Floods and wind storms proved tobe the largest natural disasters in China in 2005, in terms of the affected population and economic damage.
Epidemics were reported East Timor in 2005, though their impact was minor. Georgia reported
floods, which caused moderate human suffering.
Although 2004 did not bring many disasters for India, floods and the tsunami affected more than
33 million people. The Indian Ocean Tsunami was the most destructive disaster in 2004, but 2005 broughteven more trouble, with heavy floods and wind storms affecting many parts of the country. The mostdevastating disaster in 2005, the South Asian Earthquake, has had a tremendous impact on India. These
disasters caused almost US$6 billion damage in India and severely disrupted everyday life. Located in anatural disaster-prone area, India is vulnerable to wind storms spawned in the Bay of Bengal and theArabian Sea, earthquakes caused by active crustal movement in the Himalayan Mountains, floods brought

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Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

by monsoons, and droughts in the country's arid and semi-arid areas. India has also become much more
vulnerable to tsunamis in the Indian Ocean since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami struck the coastal areas ofAndaman and the Nicobar Islands.
Tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, wind storms, volcanic eruptions, and epidemics were the disasters
that most affected Indonesia in the year 2004. The year 2005 brought more disasters, including
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods. With seismic belts running throughout the country, Indonesia is
prone to earthquakes. It has 129 active volcanoes and experiences volcanic eruptions on a regular basis.
The year 2005 was no exception in terms of the occurrence of disasters related to volcanic activity.
Moreover, floods tend to occur along with wind storms during the country's rainy season.
The year 2005, like 2004, was devastating for Iran, which experienced earthquakes, floods, andwind storms. In 2003, the historic Bam Earthquake destroyed almost the entire historical town of Bam andaccounted for the highest number of human lives claimed in a single disaster that year. The year 2005 was
better than 2003 or 2004, however, even though earthquakes, floods and wind storms had a considerable
impact.
In Japan, 2005 was not as bad a year as 2004 in terms of damage and human suffering. The 2004
earthquake in Niigata caused about US$28 billion in damage and affected more than 62,000 people. This
was the highest amount of damage caused by a single disaster in Japan in 2004. Floods and wind storms
also had a considerable effect on the population, affecting 350,000 people and causing damage of morethan US$18 billion. Some major wind storms and floods also had a considerable impact on the populationin Japan in 2005. The damage caused by disasters was comparatively low in 2005 versus previous years.
Since Japan's geographical position makes it highly prone to earthquakes, wind storms, floods, landslides,
and tsunamis, it has some of the best disaster management systems and countermeasures in the world.
These have proven to be highly effective in reducing human losses and suffering.
Flood affected more than 25,000 people in Kazakhstan in 2005.
Most of the natural disasters that occur in Korea consist of floods in the rainy season, as well as
wind storms. In 2005 there were also wild fires, floods, and wind storms. Human suffering and economic
losses were not quite as high in 2005 as in 2004, when typhoons caused damage of more than US$500
million.
Almost 90% of Kyrgyzstan is covered with mountains that are more than 1,000 meters above
sea level, and about 40% of those mountains are situated in alpine areas over 3,000 meters in elevation. The
distinctive natural disasters of Kyrgyzstan are earthquakes accompanied by active crustal deformations, andfloods caused by snowmelt and landslides. As in previous years, Kyrgyzstan reported flood disasters thatcaused moderate human suffering in 2005.
Malaysia often experiences floods and landslides caused by rainfall during the monsoon season,and rainstorms triggered by tropical low pressure systems. In 2005, the country experienced floods andwild fires. These produced little loss of life and economic damage, in spite of causing high numbers ofaffected population.

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Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Though landslide disasters affected Myanmar in 2005, there were human losses associated withthem.
Nepal is located in the Himalayan region where the Indian plate is subsiding under the Eurasia
plate. This crustal formation causes frequent earthquakes. Moreover, floods, landslides, and extreme
temperatures often pose a threat to Nepal. Table 17 shows that Nepal suffered significant flooding in 2004,
which caused heavy human losses and high numbers of total affected population (which includes thenumbers of homeless, injured ,and affected persons).
Pakistan is often hit by droughts, extreme temperatures, floods, landslides, earthquakes, andwind storms. In the year 2005, the South Asian earthquake caused significant human suffering, with morethan 73,000 dead and about three million people affected. This disaster produced the highest death toll in
the world in 2005. Pakistan also experienced floods that had a significant impact on the population.
Papua New Guinea is highly vulnerable to all kinds of natural disasters, both thehydro-meteorological and geo-physical, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, floods, and windstorms. Floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions were the three natural disasters that occurred in 2005
and these disasters caused considerable numbers of total affected people. The affected population figuresfrom these disasters were some of the highest in Oceania in 2005.
The Philippines is located on the Pacific Rim of Fire, making it vulnerable to natural disasters ofboth the hydro-meteorological and geo-physical types. As in previous years, the damage caused byhydro-meteorological disasters grew in 2005, with very large populations affected by floods and windstorms. Floods also caused extensive economic damage in 2005.
Russia is a vast land where the disaster-affected population and economic losses are noticeable.
Floods, landslides, extreme temperature and windstorms affected large numbers of people in 2005. Floods
also caused considerable economic losses and affected many people.
Saudi Arabia also suffered from floods in 2005, as in 2003, but the number of people affected bythose floods was relatively small.
The year 2005 was not nearly as disastrous as 2004 for Sri Lanka, which is located in the Indian
Ocean just south of India. Sri Lanka frequently experiences droughts during its dry seasons, andwindstorms, floods, and subsequent landslides during its rainy seasons due to cyclones from the Bay of
Bengal. These natural disasters have been the country's prime concerns thus far. In 2004, Sri Lanka wasdevastated by the record-breaking Indian Ocean Tsunami, which caused tremendous human losses andnumbers of affected population. The economic damage caused by this tsunami was so huge as to haveseverely affected the country’s economic progress. The scale of the human and economic losses sustained
triggered a massive outpouring of international assistance to that country in 2004. This continued in 2005,
as tsunami recovery efforts proceeded at a slow pace. Compounding this catastrophe, Sri Lanka also
experienced floods in 2005, which affected more than 145,000 people.
Wind storms and floods also affected Taiwan (China) in 2005, yielding relatively high numbersof affected people and economic damage.

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Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Tajikistan’s prime concerns are earthquakes and floods, as much of the land is mountainous. In
2005, landslides and floods occurred, causing human suffering and economic damage.
Like 2004, the year 2005 was a bad year for flooding in Thailand. Floods killed more than 76
people, affected more than 250,000, and caused damage of more than US$14 million. Most of the country's
economic damage (more than US$ 250 million) came from drought. Thailand is highly prone to natural
disasters because of its location and terrain. The northeastern area is prone to floods and droughts, while thesouth is vulnerable to storms, floods, and landslides. Thailand was hit hard by these disasters in 2005, andthe population affected by hydro-meteorological disasters was quite large.
Floods were reported in Uzbekistan in 2005, but their impact was small.
Vietnam is located in the southeast monsoon climate area, and the majority of the annual rainfall
occurs during the rainy season, which causes heavy human and economic losses every year. Droughts,
floods, and wind storms caused severe human suffering and economic losses in Vietnam in 2005. These
disasters affected more than 850,000 people and caused more than US$295 million in damage.
Human suffering in Yemen in 2005 was caused primarily by epidemics, floods and landslides.
The tables above show that the majority of Asian and ADRC member countries experienced
either hydro-meteorological disasters and/or geo-physical disasters, which inflicted heavy human andeconomic losses on society and created hurdles for economic development. Furthermore, the heavy effectsof these disasters deprived people of opportunities for socio-economic advancement, thereby slowing down
the pace of national and regional development. The most severe disasters of 2005 happened in Asia
(Pakistan, India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Philippines) and affectedlarge numbers of people. The South Asian Earthquake and the floods in India, China, and Bangladesh wereparticularly damaging, causing destruction at home and hindering economic and development progressregion wide. It is imperative that efforts be made to design and implement proper disaster mitigation andpreparedness plans to reduce human losses, suffering, and economic losses, and to contribute to sustainable
development on a global scale.

８６Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

4.3 Conclusions

The year 2005 witnessed severe natural disasters all over the world. The highest death toll camefrom the South Asian Earthquake in Pakistan and India, the highest affected population from the floods in
Bangladesh, China, and India, and the highest level of economic damage from Hurricanes Katrina andWilma in the US. Asian region experienced the most severe disaster in many years in the world. Africa also
suffered from droughts and floods. Europe experienced floods which claimed heavy losses of human lifeand caused suffering in the region. Oceania sustained wild fires and windstorms, and was moderately
impacted by volcanic eruptions. The US was hit by intense hurricanes that caused the highest levels of
economic damage for the year. The long-term disaster data analyses show that low income and low humandevelopment countries were affected significantly in terms of their ratios of human losses to population,and damage to GNI. The disaster figures and data for 2005 were consistent with patterns from previous
years, but the damage ratio to the economy was higher in the upper middle and high income countries thisyear. This reinforces the lesson that even developed countries cannot be complacent about disaster
reduction strategies and countermeasures. It also highlights the need for continuous review and monitoringof disaster reduction strategies, and underscores the need for effective, practical regional cooperation, andinvestments in disaster reduction measures.
Although many initiatives have been launched and investments made in developing countries inregions vulnerable to disasters, the increasing frequency and magnitude of natural catastrophes that result in
economic loss and human suffering have hindered those initiatives. This book has sought to derive
conclusions from analytical evidence in order to integrate disaster risk management initiatives intodevelopment objectives. The preceding chapters show that the human development and income levels of acountry are crucial determinants for the effective implementation of risk management approaches andpost-disaster management initiatives. In addition, the active and effective participation of women in the risk
management process has been shown to be crucial to any meaningful disaster countermeasures, especiallyin the least developed countries.
These general phenomena can be seen not only in ADRC member countries, but also throughout
Asia. The obvious vulnerability of this region to geo-physical and hydro-meteorological disasters in termsof demographic, socio-economic, and geo-physical factors justifies the need for prudent development
policies and proactive risk management practices, as well as further investments in disaster reduction. This
book also advocates for the urgent integration of specific country and regional initiatives into a cohesive
disaster management approach with ongoing socio-economic development activities. Since disasters impact
every socio-economic aspect of a country, designing development-oriented disaster prevention measuresthat incorporate the strength of human and economic resources would be an appropriate method of ensuring
effective sustainable development.

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Chapter 4

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2005

Natural Disaster Data Book-2005(An Analytical Overview)
March 2006

Prepared and Edited by
Dr. SriGowri SANKER
Mr. Hajime NAKANOAsian Disaster Reduction Center
Hitomiraikan 5F
1-5-2 Wakihamakaigan-doriChuo-ku, Kobe 651-0073
JAPAN

Tel: +81-78-262-5540

Fax: +81-78-262-5546

Website: http://www.adrc.or.jp
E-mail: rep@adrc.or.jp

８８