Natural hazards in Colombia

Natural disasters in Colombia are the result of several different natural hazards that affect the country according to its particular geographic and geologic features. Human vulnerability, exacerbated by the lack of planning or lack of appropriate emergency management, and the fragility of the economy and infrastructure contribute to a high rate of financial, structural, and human losses.

Some of the natural hazards present in Colombia are:

• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Landslides
• Volcanoes ^[1]

Geologic

Colombia is part of the

. Some natural disasters of this type are:

• The 1875 Cúcuta earthquake
• The 8.2 M_w 
  Mercalli intensity
  of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami.
• The 1982 Popayán earthquake
• The 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz volcano and subsequent Armero tragedy
• The 1994 Páez River earthquake
• The
  Quindío
  department.

Hydrologic

Rainfall is heaviest in the Pacific lowlands and in parts of eastern Colombia, where rain is almost a daily occurrence and rain forests predominate. Precipitation exceeds 760 centimeters annually in most of the Pacific lowlands, making this one of the wettest regions in the world. The highest average annual precipitation in the world is estimated to be in Lloro, Colombia, with 13,299 mm (523.9 inches).^[2] In eastern Colombia, it decreases from 635 centimeters in portions of the Andean piedmont to 254 centimeters eastward. Extensive areas of the Caribbean interior are permanently flooded, more because of poor drainage than because of the moderately heavy precipitation during the rainy season. The

is also frequent. January through March and July through September are the dry seasons, when abnormally dry periods cause shortage in the water supply to crops and urban centers.

Climatic

Caribbean Region of Colombia

The presence of coastal regions both in the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans increases the risk of

. Some of the events of this type that have affected the country are:

• Tropical Storm Bret (1993)
• Hurricane Cesar–Douglas
• Hurricane Joan–Miriam

Health and disease

Some of the main public health issues in Colombia are:

and violence related causes of mortality.

References