ABSTRACT
Natural hazards such as earthquakes, fl oods, tropical cyclones and disease epidemics are normal functions of the natural environment. ey do, therefore, aff ect all living organisms but they are usually only referred to as disasters or catastrophes when they impact human society to cause social disruption, material damage and loss of life. As such, natural hazards should be defi ned and studied both in terms of the physical processes involved and the human factors aff ecting the vulnerability of certain groups of people to disasters.
