Natural disaster risk inequalities in Central America

Abstract

Central America is affected by geological and hydrometeorological hazards that, together with its high exposure and vulnerability, comprise risky scenarios for disasters. This region presents a significant number of casualties and economic losses due to disasters every year. We present an analysis of the origin of extensive risks (high-frequency-low-magnitude hazards occurrences) and intensive (low-frequency-high magnitude hazard occurrences) in Central America from 1990 to 2015 using the disaster databases EM-DAT and DesInventar. Findings reveal that Costa Rica reported the greatest number of both intensive and extensive risks (disaster occurrences) whereas El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras experienced the highest number of casualties in terms of injuries and lost, as well as highest number of damaged or destroyed houses by extensive and intensive risks. Disaster databases, like the ones employed in this research, provide useful data for risk assessment, land use planning, and risk management in developing countries. This study stresses the need for exhaustive risk assessment at the local, regional, and national scales.