Vulnerability aspects of housing in Bangladesh due to multiple natural hazards

Abstract

As a first step in disaster mitigation, this study aims to identify and evaluate the natural hazards in Bangladesh. The major hazards namely earthquake, flood, cyclone and tornado of Bangladesh were studied. This includes study of geological, topographical, hydrological and seismo tectonic setup in Bangladesh, probable major hazard sources, existing hazard zoning maps etc. A detailed disaster database including damage data of earthquake, flood, cyclone and tornado was compiled. These data were collected from various sources. Different intensity scales for these disasters were also reviewed. The collected damage data, damage scenario and models were used to develop and propose intensity scales for earthquake, flood, cyclone and tornado for Bangladesh. Total risks for earthquake, flood, cyclone and tornado with the variables of those natural hazards occurrence, were estimated for different areas of Bangladesh. A new district wise tornado hazard zoning map was proposed based on the frequency of occurrence. The digitized maps of earthquake, cyclone, tornado and flood hazards were presented in this study as Vulnerability Risk Areas of Bangladesh, wherein the risk score was tabulated for different districts of Bangladesh. Based on estimated risk score of earthquake, cyclone, tornado and flood hazards a multi-hazard map of Bangladesh was proposed. The housing types of Bangladesh were categorized based on Bureau of Statistics data. The housing vulnerability table for each district was prepared based on risk of damage for different housing types. At a glance the tables will show the percent areas of the district most susceptible to earthquake, cyclone, tornado and flood hazards for different housing categories.