Basic Concept of

Hazard
What is Hazard?

Burton 1978
"those elements of the physical
environment, harmful to man and caused by
forces extraneous to him"

Standards Australia (2000)

" A source of potential harm or a situation
with a potential to cause loss"
USGS Hazard Terminologies

-a phenomenon or situation, which has the

potential to cause the disruption or damage
to people, their property, their services, and
their environment
General Classification of Hazard

1. Natural hazard
- such as earthquakes or floods arise
from purely natural processes in the
environment.
2. Quasi-natural hazards

- such as smog or desertification that arise

through the interaction of natural processes
and human activities.
3. Technological hazard (human-made)

- such as the toxicity of pesticides to

agriculture lands, accidental leaks of chemicals
from chemical laboratories or radiation from a
nuclear plants.
Types of HAZARDS
Atmospheric Hazard
Hydrological Hazard
Geologic Hazard
Biological Hazard
Technological Hazard
Impacts of Various Hazards on Different
Exposed Elements

• According to the Center for Integrated Mountain

Development (ICIMOD) the impacts of various hazards
vary in severity and vary in regard to how long they last.

• Wealth and development assist in the way people

recover from hazard.
• A more economically developed country can prepare
for and predict hazards more effectively and they
have more resources to support a faster recovey.

• However there is also a need for resilience. In many

developing countries people who experience
hardship can often recover more quickly from hazard.
Physical Impact

 Death of people
 Destruction and loss of vital infrastructure
like transport system, roads, bridges, power
lines, and communication lines

 Widespread loss of housing

Psychological Impact
Grief and psychological trauma- Post Traumatic
Severe Disorder (PTSD)
 Martial conflicts
 Depression due to loss of loved ones and
properties
 Chronic anxiety among children severely affected
Socio-Cultural Impact

 Displacement of population

 Loss of cultural identity

 Forced adoption of new sets of culture

 Ethnic conflicts
Economic Impact

Loss of job due to displacement

 Loss of harvest and livestock

 Loss of farms, fish cages, and other sources of

living

 Loss of money and other valuables like jewelries,

furniture and appliances
Environmental Impact

 Loss of forests due to forest fires

 Loss of fresh waterdue to salination - intrusion of

salt water to fesh

 Disaturbancof biodiversity

 Loss of natural rivers ansother tributaries

Biological Impact

 Epidemic to people, flora and fauna

 Chronic and permanent illnesses due to nuclear

radiation

 Mental disorder developed from consumption of

contaminated foods

 Proliferation of different viral and bacterial diseases.

Thank you😊