1.7B - Megadisasters
Tectonic mega-disasters can have regional or even global significance in terms of economic and human impacts (2004 Asian tsunami, 2010 Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland (global interdependence) and the 2011 Japanese tsunami (energy policy))
Very large disasters account for most deaths. There were about 270 deadly earthquakes between 2005 and 2015. Of the 433,000 killed, 412,000 were killed by just five disasters. Three of these - Kashmir 2005, Sichuan 2008 and Nepal 2015 - are in the same tectonic location: the Himalaya colllision zone. These three disasters account for 40% of all earthquake deaths between 2005 and 2015, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake accounts for another 50%.
In recent years three examples of 'megadisasters' have occurred. Although rare, these are characterised by impacts extending beyond the country immediately affected. The 2011 tsunami in Japan showed how the globalised, inter-dependence world economy could be affected by the economic and human impacts of disasters.
2004 Asian tsunami
- 14 countries surrounding the Indian Ocean affected
- Economic losses and deaths in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lank and Somalia among others make this disaster one of the largest ever in terms of areal extent.
- Only Japan was directly affected, but the economic impacts had global consequences.
- Impacts: disruption to ports, factories and power supplies had impacts for the global car-production supply chain and those of Boeing jets and semiconductors used in modern electronics.
- In addition, the accompanying nuclear meltdown disaster at Fukushima was a catalyst in Germany abandoning its nuclear energy programme.
- In addition, the accompanying nuclear meltdown disaster at Fukushima was a catalyst in Germany abandoning its nuclear energy programme.
- 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption
- Over 20 European countries were affected by total or partial closure of their airspace
- The ash cloud from the eruption had a disruptive effect on air travel because of the dangers of jet engines ingesting ash: over 100,000 cancelled flights costing over £1 billion in loses.