Natural Hazards and Disasters

Natural Hazards

• Typhoons are annual occurrences and the most frequent cause of disaster in the Philippines, having a severe impact on large parts of the country.
• Storm surges are atmospheric disturbances manifested in strong winds accompanied by rain and often by thunder and lightning, causing severe damage to coastal areas.
• Floods are the overflowing of excessive water onto an area which is normally dry, disrupting economic and social activities of the people.
• Volcanic eruptions are the process where molten rock materials are emitted or ejected, resulting in the displacement and evacuation of people, damage to properties, and loss of lives.
• Earthquakes are ground vibrations caused by volcanic activity, triggering landslides, and strong earthquakes may result in severe destruction of properties and infrastructure.
• Tsunamis are very large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, affecting Philippine coastal areas up to four meters above sea level.
• Landslides are the dislodging and falling of a mass of land and rocks, triggered by excessive rainfall or earthquakes.
• Droughts are long periods without rainfall, causing damage to crops, economic losses, and disaster declarations.

Man-Made Disasters

• Fires are rapid and persistent chemical reactions involving combustible materials and oxygen, resulting in destruction of properties and physical and psychological injuries or loss of lives.
• Conflagrations are large disastrous fires involving numerous buildings or structures.
• Maritime disasters are ill-fated events that occur at high seas, causing excessive damages, injuries, and loss of lives.
• Land and air accidents are unplanned or unforeseen events that may occur either on air or on land, resulting mostly from ignorance or carelessness.
• Oil spills are falloff of oil or similar substance from a container, resulting in environmental hazards, usually occurring at sea due to mishandling of vessels or sea mishaps.
• Civil strife is social unrest with violent activities, destruction of properties, and chaos, resulting in injuries.
• Pollution is the contamination of water, soil, or atmosphere by the discharge of noxious substances, causing hazards to the environment and health.
• Red tide is the presence of toxic chemicals or pollutants in coastal waters, extremely affecting natural resources and resulting in food poisoning and deaths.