Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

5
DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN
THAILAND
5.1 Risk Profile
Thailand is regarded as highly vulnerable to
natural disasters caused by hydro-meteorological
phenomena (floods, landslides, storms, droughts,
etc.). Thailand is ranked as the seventh most flood
prone country in the world, 204 they occur almost
annually, and they are, by far, the most devastating
disaster in the country. Official statistics from
2002–2008 show that the country floods an average
of approximately 10 times per year, with an average
of 44 provinces affected, 96 deaths, and THB 5.88
billion in economic loss. 205
Source: Preventionweb
Note: The X-axis shows the number of events during
1980–2010)
Table 85: Natural disaster
occurrence reported
(1980–2010)
Multi-hazard disaster risk maps indicate that Thailand is significantly affected by hydrological
and drought events, particularly in the central, eastern, and southern regions. Though
floods pose the greatest threat to Thailand, in terms of mortality and impact on GDP, 206 the
population exposed to drought is
Hazard
Population Country roughly three times as high and
exposed
ranking
cyclones pose a risk primarily in
Cyclone
5,147 52nd out of 89
Drought
2,444,010 31st out of 184
coastal areas that are the landing
Flood
Landslide
Earthquake
Tsunami
819,822
2,496
22,860
3,487
7th out of 162
42nd out of 162
92nd out of 153
54th out of 76
ground for the frequent tropi-
cal storms. Thailand also faces
earthquake and tsunami risk, as
has been experienced in 2004,
Source: Preventionweb
with a loss of 8,221 lives. 207
Table 86: Population exposed
to hazards and country rank
(1980–2010)
204 Preventionweb: http://www.preventionweb.net/english/countries/statistics/index.php?cid=170
205 National Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Plan, p4.
206 Natural Disaster Hotspot: Global Risk Analysis http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/chrr/research/profiles/pdfs/thailand_profile1.pdf
207 Prevention web
242 THAI FLOOD 2011 RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PLANNING