Technological disasters

Technological disasters

Technological disasters refer to catastrophic events that are caused by failures or accidents in technology-related systems, such as industrial facilities, transportation networks, energy infrastructure, and communication systems. Some examples of technological disasters include:

Chernobyl nuclear disaster: In 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded, releasing radioactive material into the environment and causing significant health and environmental impacts.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill: In 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico caused a massive oil spill that lasted for months, damaging marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

Fukushima nuclear disaster: In 2011, an earthquake and tsunami in Japan caused a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, resulting in the release of radioactive materials and long-term environmental and health impacts.

Bhopal gas tragedy: In 1984, a gas leak at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released toxic gas into the surrounding community, resulting in thousands of deaths and long-term health impacts.

Space shuttle disasters: In 1986 and 2003, two separate disasters involving the space shuttle program resulted in the deaths of all crew members and significant impacts on the space program.

Flint water crisis: In 2014, the city of Flint, Michigan, switched its water supply to a contaminated source, resulting in a public health crisis and long-term impacts on the community.

The Three Mile Island nuclear accident: In 1979, a partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor at the Three Mile Island power plant in Pennsylvania resulted in a significant release of radioactive material and long-term environmental and health impacts.

Technological disasters can have significant impacts on human health, the environment, and the economy, and can take years or decades to recover from. Preventing technological disasters requires effective risk assessment and management, regulation and oversight, and investment in technology and infrastructure that is resilient and designed to prevent failures and accidents.

Global disaster trends

Global disaster trends

Changing risks are becoming increasingly important due to various factors, such as rapid urbanization, globalization, climate change, and technological advancements. Some examples of emerging risks of disasters include:

1. Cybersecurity threats: As more critical infrastructure and services become digitized, there is an increasing risk of cyber-attacks that can disrupt essential services and cause significant economic and social damage.

2. Pandemics: The emergence and rapid spread of infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can cause widespread illness, death, and economic disruption.

3. Urbanization: As more people move to urban areas, there is an increased risk of disasters related to population density, such as heatwaves, urban flooding, and building collapses.

4. Climate change: Rising global temperatures, sea level rise, and extreme weather events are increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts.

5. Social and political instability: Political conflicts, social unrest, and economic crises can exacerbate the impacts of disasters, particularly in vulnerable and marginalized communities.

6. Technological hazards: The increasing use of hazardous materials and technologies, such as nuclear power and genetically modified organisms, can pose significant risks to human health and the environment in the event of a disaster.

7. Financial risks: The increasing interconnectedness of global financial systems can amplify the economic impacts of disasters and create systemic risks to the global economy.

Addressing emerging risks of disasters requires a proactive and multidisciplinary approach that involves stakeholders from various sectors and levels of society. This includes developing risk assessments and early warning systems, investing in disaster preparedness and response, promoting sustainable development and resilience-building measures, and addressing the root causes of vulnerability and risk.

Emerging risks of disasters

 Emerging risks of disasters

Emerging risks of disasters refer to new or changing risks that are becoming increasingly important due to various factors, such as rapid urbanization, globalization, climate change, and technological advancements. Some examples of emerging risks of disasters include:

Cybersecurity threats: As more critical infrastructure and services become digitized, there is an increasing risk of cyber-attacks that can disrupt essential services and cause significant economic and social damage.

Pandemics: The emergence and rapid spread of infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can cause widespread illness, death, and economic disruption.

Urbanization: As more people move to urban areas, there is an increased risk of disasters related to population density, such as heatwaves, urban flooding, and building collapses.

Climate change: Rising global temperatures, sea level rise, and extreme weather events are increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts.

Social and political instability: Political conflicts, social unrest, and economic crises can exacerbate the impacts of disasters, particularly in vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Technological hazards: The increasing use of hazardous materials and technologies, such as nuclear power and genetically modified organisms, can pose significant risks to human health and the environment in the event of a disaster.

Financial risks: The increasing interconnectedness of global financial systems can amplify the economic impacts of disasters and create systemic risks to the global economy.

Addressing emerging risks of disasters requires a proactive and multidisciplinary approach that involves stakeholders from various sectors and levels of society. This includes developing risk assessments and early warning systems, investing in disaster preparedness and response, promoting sustainable development and resilience-building measures, and addressing the root causes of vulnerability and risk.

Climate change and urban disasters

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change refers to a long-term shift in the Earth's climate system, including changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events, that are primarily driven by human activity, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The Earth's climate has always undergone natural variations over time, but the current changes are occurring at an unprecedented rate and are largely attributed to the increase in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases due to the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other human activities.

The effects of climate change are far-reaching and include rising sea levels, more frequent and severe heat waves, droughts, floods, and storms, as well as changes in ecosystem dynamics and the distribution of plant and animal species. These impacts have significant consequences for human societies and economies, affecting food and water security, human health, infrastructure, and energy systems, among other areas.

Mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change require a collective effort by individuals, communities, governments, and businesses, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy systems, protecting and restoring ecosystems, and developing adaptive strategies to reduce vulnerability to climate impacts.

URBAN DISASTER

An urban disaster is an unexpected event or series of events that disrupts the normal functioning of a city or urban area, resulting in significant human, material, economic, or environmental losses. Urban disasters can be caused by a variety of factors, including natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires, as well as human-made hazards such as terrorist attacks, industrial accidents, and civil unrest.

Urban disasters can have a significant impact on the people living in affected areas, as well as on the infrastructure, institutions, and systems that support the functioning of cities. In addition to causing physical damage and loss of life, urban disasters can also result in social and economic disruption, displacement of populations, and long-term effects on public health, the environment, and the economy.

Effective disaster management and preparedness strategies can help mitigate the impact of urban disasters by improving risk reduction, emergency response, and post-disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts. These strategies involve a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, communities, and individuals, and require a multidisciplinary approach that integrates social, economic, environmental, and technological factors.

Man-made disasters

TSUNAMI

TSUNAMI

The term ‘Tsunami’ has been coined from the Japanese term Tsu meaning ‘harbour’ and nami meaning ‘waves’. Tsunamis are waves generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslides and can reach 15m or more in height devastating coastal communities. Tsunamis caused by nearby earthquakes may reach the coast within minutes. When the waves enter shallow water, they may rise to several feet or, in rare cases, tens of feet, striking the coast with devastating force. The Tsunami danger period can continue for many hours after a major earthquake.

 

Tsunamis are nearly always created by movement of the sea floor associated with earthquakes which occur beneath the sea floor or near the ocean. Tsunamis may also be generated by very large earthquakes far away in other areas of the Ocean. Waves caused by these travel at hundreds of kilometers per hour, reaching the coast several hours after the earthquake. Unlike ordinary tides, which are short, frequent and surface level, tsunami, are barely noticeable in their deep-sea formation stage. At this point despite a wavelength up to 100 km, they are shallow in depth and move at hundreds of
 Kilometer per hour.

Tsunamis can be very large. In coastal areas their height can be as great as 10m or more (30m in extreme cases), and they can move inland several hundred meters.All low-lying coastal areas can be struck by tsunamis.

A tsunami consists of a series of waves. Often the first wave may not be the largest. The danger from subsequent tsunami waves can last for several hours after the arrival of the first wave.

Sometimes a tsunami causes the water near the shore to recede, exposing the ocean floor. This is nature’s Tsunami warning.

The force of some tsunamis is enormous. Large rocks weighing several tons along with boats and other debris can be moved inland several meters by tsunami wave activity. Homes and other buildings are destroyed. All floating material and water move with great force and causing mortality or injuries to people.

Tsunamis can occur at any time of day or night.

Tsunamis can travel up rivers and streams that lead to the ocean thereby polluting them.

Tsunamis may also be generated by very large earthquakes far away in other areas of the Ocean. Waves caused by these travel at hundreds of kilometers per hour, reaching the coast several hours after the earthquake. Unlike ordinary tides, which are short, frequent and surface level, tsunami, are barely noticeable in their deep-sea formation stage. At this point despite a wavelength up to 100 km, they are shallow in depth and move at hundreds of kilometer per hour.

landslides

LANDSIDES

Landslides
Landslides are among the major natural disasters or calamities in the world. In hilly terrains of India, including Himalayan mountains landslides have been a major and widely spread natural disasters that strike life and property almost perennially and occupy a position of major concern. These landslides, year after year, bring about untold misery to human settlements apart from causing devastating damages to transportation and communication network. Landslides, debris fall, debris slide, debris flow, rock toppling etc. cause destruction of slope and ground surface, initiating the change of uncontrolled erosion in the mountain terrains.

FACTORS THAT CAUSE LANDSLIDES
Landslides occur because of the interplay of several factors.
Natural factors
★ Intensity of rainfall
★ Steep slopes
★ Stiffness of slopes
★ Highly weathered rock layers
★ Soil layers formed under gravity
★ Seismic activity
★ Poor drainage
Man made factors
★ Deforestation leading to soil erosion
★ Non-engineered excavation
★ Mining and quarrying
★ Non-engineered construction
★ Land use pattern

Vulnerable houses are those which are situated on:

• Existing landslides area.
• Steep natural slopes.
• Areas in or at the mouths of drainages (such as canyons).
• Houses constructed near foothills.

PROTECTION MEASURES FROM DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS
Site Selection
Landslides generally happen where they have occurred in the past, and in identifiable hazard locations. Areas that are typically considered safe from landslides include areas that have not moved in the past; relatively flat areas away from sudden changes in slope; and areas at the top of or along ridges. Houses built at the toe of steep slopes are often vulnerable to slides and debris flows.
Signs and Warnings
A house located on a hill can detect possible slope failure by watching for these signs:
Doors or windows stick or jam for the first time.
New Cracks appear on plaster, tile, brick or foundations.
Outside walls, walks or stairs begin pulling away from the building.
Slowly developing, widening cracks appear on the ground or on paved areas such as streets or driveways.
Underground utility lines break.
Fences, retaining walls, utility poles or trees tilt or move.
Water or bulging ground appears at the base of a slope.

The potential for landslides and destructive erosion can be greatly reduced or prevented with proper development, sound construction techniques, seasonal inspections and regular maintenance of drainage facilities.

Earthquake

 EARTHQUAKE

"An earthquake is a sudden motion or trembling of the ground produced by the abrupt displacement of rock masses".

• Most earthquakes result from the movement of one rock mass past another in response to tectonic forces.
• The focus is the point where the earthquake's motion starts.
• The epicenter is the point on the earth's surface that is directly above the focus.
• Earthquake Magnitude is a measure of the strength of an earthquake as calculated from records of the event made on a calibrated seismograph.
• In 1935, Charles Richter first defined local magnitude, and the Richter scale is commonly used today to describe an earthquake's magnitude.
• Earthquake Intensity.  is a measure of the effects of an earthquake at a particular place. It is determined from observations of the earthquake's effects on people, structures and the earth's surface.
• Among the many existing scales, the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 12 degrees, symbolized as MM, is frequently used
  

Earthquake Hazards
Earthquake hazards can be categorized as either direct hazards or indirect hazards.
Direct Hazards

• Ground shaking
• Differential ground settlement
• Soil liquefaction
• Immediate landslides or mud slides, ground lurching and avalanches
• Permanent ground displacement along faults
• Floods from tidal waves, Sea Surges & Tsunamis
  

Indirect Hazards

• Dam failures
• Pollution from damage to industrial plants
• Delayed landslides.

Most of the damage due to earthquakes is the result of strong ground shaking. For large magnitude events, trembling has been felt over more than 5 million sq. km.

Site Risks
Some common site risks are:

• Slope Risks - Slope instability, triggered by strong shaking may cause landslides. Rocks or boulders can roll considerable distances.
• Natural Dams - Landslides in irregular topographic areas may create natural dams which may collapse when they are filled. This can lead to potentially catastrophic avalanches after strong seismic shaking.
• Volcanic Activity - Earthquakes may be associated with potential volcanic activity and may occasionally be considered as precursory phenomena.
• Explosive eruptions are normally followed by ash falls and/or pyroclastic flows, volcanic lava or mud flows, and volcanic gases.
  

Geological disasters

Geological disasters

Geological disasters are caused by the transition of rock mass from stable equilibrium to the unstable state. This transition is accompanied by release of large amounts of energy. The disasters of this type are classified as:

1. Earthquake
2. Landslides
3. Tsunami
4. Mining

Earthquake

Earthquakes are one of the most dangerous and instantaneously destructive natural hazards. It is not possible to forecast earthquakes with regard to time and place of occurrence or magnitude. A large portion of our country is vulnerable to earthquake activity of varying magnitudes. The nature and impact of earthquake disaster is dependent on:

• its magnitude
• geological and soil conditions
• location of fault
• construction of major structures and 
• prevailing construction practices in the particular areas.

India has a very long history of earthquakes. A few major earthquakes are listed below:

1. Rann of Kutch (1819) magnitude 8.0
2. Assam (1897) magnitude 8.7
3. Kangra (H.P.) (1905) magnitude 8.0
4. Bihar-Nepal border (1934) magnitude 8.4
5. Andaman Islands (1941) magnitude 8.0 and
6. Assam (1950) magnitude 8.6.

In the recent past, India experienced major earthquakes at 

1. Uttarkashi (1991)
2. Latur (1993) and Jabalpur (1997)
3. Chamoli (1999) 
4. Bhuj (2001).

In the earthquake that occurred at Uttarkashi:

• The affected area had a known history of earthquake occurrence and widespread damage took place due to this earthquake.
• The non-engineered buildings found throughout the rural areas and the old stone buildings in the towns suffered severe damage.
• The engineered buildings faced the earth quake in a very safe manner and suffered no damage, except for minor cracks in the buildings
• There was large scale damage to infrastructural facilities in the earthquake affected area.
• The damage to roads was due to rockfall, landslides and' rock-slides along the road side slopes causing heavy damage
• Services like communication network and power supply system were affected very badly
• The buildings that house health and education facilities suffered damaged the joints in the piped supply lines failed due to ground shaking, resulting in disruption of water supply
• A large number of bridges were located to cross the rivers and deep river valleys throughout the hilly area. 
• The Gawana bridge on the road to Gangotri suffered 'slight to medium damages.

In the earthquake that occurred at Latur:

This earthquake struck the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state on 30th September 1993. The impact of this earthquake was felt in the adjoining states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

also.

• Widespread damage took place due to this earthquake.
• Due to the earthquake most of the houses were destroyed' causing death of people in large numbers as also a wide spread damage to installations and properties
• The entire region had a traditional system of dwelling unit construction which involved heavy stone walls, and a massive roof over the wooden timber sub-structure. 
• During the earthquake most of the houses were destroyed' causing death of people in large numbers along with widespread damage to installations and properties
• Army services were pressed into action for the rescue operation. This involved clearing rubble, rescuing the injured, removal and cremation of dead bodies.
• Provisions were made for temporary relief shelters to the survivors of the earthquake. These
• shelters were made up ofG.1. (galvanized iron) sheeted roofs over the bamboo
• or wooden frames. About 30,000 families were provided the temporary
• shelters in the two worst affected districts of Latur and Osmanabad,

Landslides

• Landslides are simply defined as the mass movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope and have come to include a broad range of motions whereby falling, sliding and flowing under the influence of gravity dislodges earth material. 
• They often take place in conjunction with earthquakes, floods and volcanoes. At times, prolonged rainfall causing heavy block the flow or river for quite some time. 
• The formation of river blocks can cause havoc to the settlements downstream on it's bursting. In the hilly terrain of India including the Himalayas, landslides have been a major and widely spread natural disaster the often strike life and property and occupy a position of major concern.

The two regions most vulnerable to landslides are 

• the Himalayas and 
• the Western Ghats. 

The Himalayas mountain belt comprise of tectonically unstable younger geological formations subjected to severe seismic activity. The Western Ghats and Nilgiris are geologically stable but have uplifted plateau margins influenced by neo- tectonic activity. Compared to Western Ghats region, the slides in the Himalayas region are huge and massive and in most cases the overburden along with the underlying lithology is displaced during sliding particularly due to the seismic factor.

Incidences of landslides in India

Himalayas                                                                       - High to very high

North-eastern Hills                                                         - High

Western Ghats and the Nilgiris                                       - Moderate to high

Vindhayachal                                                                  - Low

Tsunami

• The term ‘Tsunami’ has been coined from the Japanese term Tsu meaning ‘harbour’ and nami meaning ‘waves’. Tsunamis are waves generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslides and can reach 15m or more in height devastating coastal communities.
• Tsunamis caused by nearby earthquakes may reach the coast within minutes. When the waves enter shallow water, they may rise to several feet or, in rare cases, tens of feet, striking the coast with devastating force. The Tsunami danger period can continue for many hours after a major earthquake.
• Tsunamis are nearly always created by movement of the sea floor associated with earthquakes which occur beneath the sea floor or near the ocean. Tsunamis may also be generated by very large earthquakes far away in other areas of the Ocean. Waves caused by these travel at hundreds of kilometres per hour, reaching the coast several hours after the earthquake.
• Tsunamis can be very large. In coastal areas their height can be as great as 10m or more (30m in extreme cases), and they can move inland several hundred meters. All low-lying coastal areas can be struck by tsunamis.
• A tsunami consists of a series of waves. Often the first wave may not be the largest. The danger from subsequent tsunami waves can last for several hours after the arrival of the first wave.
• Sometimes a tsunami causes the water near the shore to recede, exposing the ocean floor. This is nature’s Tsunami warning.
• The force of some tsunamis is enormous. Large rocks weighing several tons along with boats and other debris can be moved inland several meters by tsunami wave activity. Homes and other buildings are destroyed. All floating material and water move with great force and causing mortality or injuries to people.
• Tsunamis can occur at any time of day or night.
• Tsunamis can travel up rivers and streams that lead to the ocean thereby polluting them.
• Tsunamis may also be generated by very large earthquakes far away in other areas of the Ocean. Waves caused by these travel at hundreds of kilometres per hour, reaching the coast several hours after the earthquake. Unlike ordinary tides, which are short, frequent and surface level, tsunami, are barely noticeable in their deep-sea formation stage. At this point despite a wavelength up to 100 km, they are shallow in depth and move at hundreds of kilometre per hour.

Mining

Disaster Management

 Disaster Management

Disaster management is a process of effectively preparing for and responding to disasters. It involves 

• strategically organizing resources to lessen the caused by disasters. 
• a systematic approach to managing the responsibilities of disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Disaster management efforts aim to reduce or avoid the potential losses from hazards, assure prompt and appropriate assistance to the victims of a disaster, and achieve a rapid and effective recovery.

Disaster and Development

Disaster and Development

Historically it has been seen there has been an apparent increase in the number of natural disasters resulting in increasing losses due to urbanization and population growth. This is a rigid one-sided outlook of development that recognizes only growth aspect, without an eye on sustainability. In the context of definition of a disaster. we recognize only damage and destruction. 

With reference to the tsunami in 2004, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand suffered from non-ecologically sustainable over-development in coastal areas and India, Sumatra and North East Sri Lanka, suffered because affected pockets were inaccessible due to underdevelopment and impoverishment of the people. Such disastrous events have demonstrated that development has to continue, but with due concern for protection of the environment.

Science and technology should be fruitfully employed to control disasters. Alternatives should be generated by research and development in science and technology with emphasis on science and technology, especially information communication technology (ICT) for better understanding of disasters and better reach of disaster response efforts

Disasters and Development are interrelated, both in positive and negative ways. 

With regard to the relationship between disasters and development we can identify ‘four’

different dimensions to this relation:

1. Disasters can set back development by wiping out decades of economic and social development. Disasters can also limit social development. Disasters worsen poverty in communities.
2. Disasters can provide development opportunities by development policy in the aftermath period. Disasters can elevate the development potential of a society by becoming a catalyst for change in the form of reconstruction and social development as well as upgrading administrative capability and training of personnel involved. Ex: Reforestation programs after landslides and flash floods to check soil erosion, have spin off effects on other sectors, such as improved air quality, better flora and fauna, health and longevity for people, etc. These in-turn work as development programs in the form of more sources of income for the poor, enhanced employment opportunities, etc. Development opportunities often are compromised because of excessive focus on relief assistance. Disasters can also be a major vehicle for carrying out major development programs.
3. Development can increase vulnerability as Social and economic development can increase the vulnerability of the community to disaster risks. It has been shown time and again that economic development increases disaster risk. Rapid urbanisation has increased the vulnerability of the community. Urban development often leads to an influx of relatively low income groups, with large scale settlement of marginal land or in high density, poor quality housing. Marine and coastal zone development leads to population concentrations, exposed to possible storm surge, high wind, flash flood and landslide risks. 
4. Development can reduce vulnerability as demonstrated in the examples given below:
1. Disaster resistant technologies in buildings that are being newly constructed in Malaysia is a good example of development oriented towards risk reduction
2. Social development includes awareness/education to reduce human vulnerability and limit losses in a disaster
3. A literate and better-educated population, including women and girls, is better able to cope up effectively to any disaster by responding effectively to early warnings