GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Natural hazards become disasters when people’s lives and livelihoods are destroyed. Human and material losses caused by such disasters are a major obstacle to sustainable development.

Detailed explanation-2: -A hazard is any unusual event that has a potential to threaten people’s lives, their property and livelihoods. For example, typhoons, floods and fire are hazards. A hazard becomes a disaster when it happens where many people are living or have their livelihoods and causes damage to them and their property.

Detailed explanation-3: -Disasters are serious disruptions to the functioning of a community that exceed its capacity to cope using its own resources. Disasters can be caused by natural, man-made and technological hazards, as well as various factors that influence the exposure and vulnerability of a community.

Detailed explanation-4: -Most disasters that could happen have not yet happened. Natural (or physical) events are only termed hazards when they have the potential to harm people or cause property damage, social and economic disruption.

Detailed explanation-5: -A hazard becomes a disaster when either there are no mitigating circumstances to prevent the disaster from happening or the mitigating circumstances fail. For example, if there are floods that lead to the great loss of life and property, it will be called a disaster.