This might explain the catastrophic effects that are disproportionate to the magnitude of the event. In Yemen, with a land area of 500,000 sq. km and a population of 16 million, vulnerability to natural hazards is increased by the man-made environment, particularly its pattern of habitation. Exposed to a wide range of natural hazards, Yemen ranks among the top 25 disaster-prone countries.
Floods are the most frequent and earthquakes are the most devastating.
Both are potential reasons for landslide and rockfall though these usually occur as an effect of erosion and long term weathering of rocks. These earthquakes destroyed hundreds of settlements, claimed thousands of lives, and incurred billions of dollars in economic loss. In 1982, an earthquake disaster pushed the Yemeni economy decades back and forced the cancellation of developmental plans. Located in the southern part that has the highest rainfall in the Arabian Peninsula, water-related disasters frequently occur in Yemen. Heavy rainfall and flash floods claimed lives and destroyed towns, physical infrastructures and agricultural lands.