2. HUMAN DISASTERS
Human disasters are also known as anthropogenic
disasters and they as a result of human intent, error
or as a result of failed systems. These are broken
down into several categories and while this is the
case, there are some that cause more pronounced
damage when compared to others. A good example
is to look at Human disasters such as
transportation. These are divided into different
categories which include aviation, rail, road and
space among others. Often these are as a result of
neglect or ignorance and over the years, they have
claimed several lives.
3. NUCLEAR BOMB
Another type of disaster that falls in this category is
nuclear bomb. When this occurs, it is often as a result of
intent and the end results are even more catastrophic
with a large percentage of those involved losing their lives
or alternatively ending up with major defects or long
term injuries. Other types of Human disasters which are
just as catastrophic include chemical spill, oil spill, arson
and terrorism. There are also some technological hazards
which include power outages structural
collapse, industrial hazards and fire. In cases of the last
example, thousands of kilometers of land can be
destroyed and anything else that is in the wake of the
fires path.
4. INDUSTRIAL HAZARDS
Industrial disasters occur in a commercial
context, such as mining accidents. They often
have an environmental impact. The Bhopal
disaster is the world's worst industrial disaster
to date, and the Chernobyl disaster is regarded
the worst nuclear accident in history. Hazards
may have longer-term and more dispersed
effects, such as dioxin and DDT poisoning.
5. WAR
War is a conflict between relatively large groups
of people, which involves physical force inflicted
by the use of weapons. Warfare has destroyed
entire cultures, countries, economies and
inflicted great suffering on humanity. Other
terms for war can include armed
conflict, hostilities, and police action. Acts of
war are normally excluded from insurance
contracts and sometimes from disaster
planning.
6. FIRE
Bush fires, forest fires, and mine fires are generally
started by lightning, but also by human negligence
or arson. They can burn thousands of square
kilometers. If a fire intensifies enough to produce its
own winds and "weather", it will form into a
firestorm. A good example of a mine fire is the one
near Centralia, Pennsylvania. Started in 1962, it
ruined the town and continues to burn today. Some
of the biggest city-related fires are The Great
Chicago Fire, The Peshtigo Fire (both of 1871) and
the Great Fire of London in 1666.
7. DEFORESTATION
Deforestation, is the removal of a forest or stand of
trees where the land is there after converted to a
non-forest use. Examples of deforestation include
conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban
use.
About half of the world's original forests had been
destroyed by 2011, the majority during the previous
50 years. Since 1990 half of the world's rain
forests have been destroyed. More than half of the
animal and plant species in the world live in tropical
forests.
8. Rail Disasters
A railroad disaster is an occurrence associated with
the operation of a passenger train which results in
substantial loss of life. Usually accidents with freight
(goods) trains are not considered disasters, unless
they cause substantial loss of life or property. One
of the most devastating rail disasters occurred in
2004 in Sri Lanka when 1,700 people died in the Sri
Lanka tsunami-rail disaster. Other notable rail
disasters are the 1989 Ufa accident in Russia which
killed 574, and the 1917 Modane train accident in
France which killed 540.