by Lucy Maguire

Created on: August 28, 2010   Last Updated: August 29, 2010

You can't open a newspaper these days without noticing a new headline, screaming of yet another natural atrocity. From the devastation caused by the Haiti earthquake, to the Tsunami that claimed the lives of 229,000 people in Indonesia, natural disasters seem to have increased ten-fold since the turn of the century.

In January 2010, the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters delivered the results of a study conducted between 2000-2009, cataloging the number of natural disasters which had occurred around the globe. Between 2000 and 2009, 385 natural disasters were recorded, ranging from volcanic eruptions to earthquakes, and varying largely in scale. The findings showed a 67 per cent increase in the number recorded, in comparison to 1990-1999, and a 233 per cent since 1980-1989. Over 60% of these natural disasters were caused by earthquakes and tremors, with the remainder including droughts and floods.

CRED Director, Debarati Guha-Sapir agreed that there had been a significant increase in climate-related natural disasters, however Sapir was quick to add that, "CRED lacked sufficient research to determine the role of global warming in the increase in climate-related natural disasters". While this may be the case, it cannot be denied that natural disasters have seen an alarming and unprecedented increase since records began in 1950.

The most significant natural disasters of this decade, have been those which involved death tolls in the upper thousands, and even hundred thousands. The October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir claimed the lives of over 80,000 people. Capital city, Muzaffarabad saw some of the worst devastation since it was one of the most densely populated areas. Measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale the earthquake was of enough force to completely demolish buildings, however it was the 140 aftershocks which kept the area on high alert, as well as increasing the number of fatalities. The earthquake destroyed 1000 hospitals in Kashmir, leading to international efforts being called in to assist some 3.3 million people left injured and homeless.

In December 2004, the second largest earthquake ever recorded, occurred beneath the Indian Ocean. Measuring between 9.1 and 9.3 at it's epicentre, the earthquake caused a tsunami so large in scale that it hit over fourteen different countries. The worst hit was Indonesia, followed by Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Fatalities exceeded 230,000, and the disaster has become known as one of

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>