Asian Cities Face High Risks

Kathmandu, Manila, Dhaka, Mumbai and Jakarta are among the cities most prone to natural disasters, says The Guardian.

1 minute read

October 21, 2010, 11:00 AM PDT

When disaster strikes, the divergence between the security provided by a well run, well built city and the chaos facilitated by an ill-planned one, is known as the "urban risk divide":

"'Physical infrastructure, land-planning and the size of informal settlements are the biggest factors determining the impact of disasters on cities,' said NMSI Arambepola, director of Urban Disaster Risk Management with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre in Bangkok. 'With so many people migrating to the cities, many of the most vulnerable urban populations settle in the more disaster-prone areas where no one else wants to live.'"

This divide is particularly severe in Asia where, "where someone in the Philippines is up to 17 times more likely to be killed by a natural disaster than someone in Japan, although the likelihood and frequency of disaster in Japan is higher overall."

Thanks to Ryan Sloan

FULL STORY: Asian cities more vulnerable to natural disasters

Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Guardian

Infrastructure Land Use South Asia Disaster Planning Disaster-Prone Areas

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