## 5 Discussion
The 1980s, in particular, witnessed a dramatic rise in disaster occurrences, reflecting the impact of global environmental changes, increased population density, and further industrialization. The 1990s continued this trend, with significant contributions from both natural events like floods and technological incidents such as industrial explosions. The early 21 st century (2000-2020) continued the trend of increasing disaster events, although the rate of increase began to slow down by the 2010s. This period saw a higher proportion of man-made (technological) disasters, reflecting ongoing industrial growth and technological advancements [143]. However, the most recent decade (2020-2030) shows a decreasing trend in the number of disaster events, with a significant reduction in both natural and man-made (technological) disasters. This decline may be attributed to improved disaster management practices,advancements in early warning systems, and increased global awareness of disaster risks. The trend of decreasing disaster events in recent years underscores the importance of building community resilience and capacity [144]. Community-based DRR initiatives, education, and training programs have empowered local populations to better prepare for and respond to disasters [145]. Enhanced data collection, reporting mechanisms, and increased transparency in documenting disaster events have contributed to a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of disaster trends [146]. This improved data availability facilitates better analysis, planning, and decision-making [147]. The analysis of the consequences of natural and man-made (technological) disasters over 5-year intervals from 1900 to 2024 provides significant insights into how the impacts of these events on human lives and economies have evolved. Throughout the 20 th century and into the 21 st century, natural disasters have consistently caused substantial fatalities [148], with significant fluctuations in the number of deaths over different periods. Economic losses due to natural disasters have also increased markedly over the decades, reflecting the growing complexity and interconnectedness of modern societies [149]. The increased urbanization and industrialization in the mid-20 th century contributed to higher economic losses as infrastructure and economic activities expanded [150]. Disaster occurrences from 1900 to 2024 have shown fluctuations that can be traced back to significant historical events [151], technological advancements [128; 152; 153], and socio-political changes [35; 154]. For instance, the surge in disaster events during the 1911-1920 period likely stemmed from the global upheaval caused by World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic [155], which disrupted both industrial activity and societal stability. Likewise, the notable rise in disasters between 1931 and 1940 can be linked to the economic struggles of the Great Depression [156], which curtailed government spending on infrastructure and disaster preparedness, coupled with the escalation of industrial and military activities in the lead-up to World War II. The 1961-1970 period experienced an increase in disasters, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and environmental changes associated with the Green Revolution, as well as the Cold War's nuclear arms race [157]. The significant uptick in disasters during the 1981-1990 decade is connected to the global expansion of industrial activities, often in the absence of adequate environmental regulations [158], with the Chernobyl nuclear disaster [151] serving as a stark example of technological failure. Moving forward, the slight increase in disaster events from 2001 to 2010 coincided with rising global awareness of climate change [159] and improvements in disaster monitoring and reporting technologies, likely resulting in more comprehensive disaster records.