A multi-hazard environment - The Philippines

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  • Created by: sraahxx
  • Created on: 16-04-18 18:08

The Philippines

  • A group of Islands in South East Asia.

They experience a variety of different hazards including:

Volcanoes

Earthquakes

Tropical Storms

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Volcanic Activity

The Philippines is located near a destructive plate boundary, where the Philippine plate is being subducted beneath the Eurasian plate.

Example:

Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991.

More than 700 people died.

Around 200,000 people were left homeless.

Buildings collapsed and crops were destroyed.

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Seismic Activity

The area is also prone to Earthquakes due to it lying near a destructive margin.

Example:

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 occurred on Luzon Island in 1990, killing over 1500 people.

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Tropical Storms

The Philippines has around 10 tropical storms every year. They develop in the Pacific Ocean and move westwards over the island.

Example:

Typhoon Xangsane swept across Manila.

High winds and torrential rain caused flooding and landslides.

Around 200 people died.

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Responces

Communities often understand the risks of hazards, having experienced them before.

Self-preparation is common e.g. Individuals may stockpile food to eat in the event of a disaster. This increases individuals resilience.

From 2009 onwards The Philippines policy on disasters changed. Including adaptation, mitigation and management.

For example:

  • Preventing people building in high-risk areas.
  • Building embankments to reduce flood risk.
  • Increasing public awareness
  • Developing early warning systems (The Governments NOAH Project)
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