Cascading Effects of Natural Hazards: Lessons from Recent Natech Accidents and Practices

Cascading Effects of Natural Hazards: Lessons from Recent Natech Accidents and Practices

Recent trends of disaster present that disasters are more uncertain and complex with unpredictable cascading effects owing to global environmental and climate change. As one of the significant phenomena, natural hazards triggering technological accidents, so-called Natech, which cause acute and prolonged terrifying consequences, have also been increased. Considering low probability but high consequences, Natech accidents often exceed the capacity of disaster preparedness and response of local government and professional responders. As a result, the need to better manage Natech risks has become a challenge in disaster risk management among all stakeholders, including government, disaster and safety experts, industry, and citizens. Although there have been numerous efforts undertaken by international organizations and individual countries to reduce Natech risks, there are still not sufficient reflections to reduce the risks of natural hazard triggering technological disasters in South Korea. Thus, this study highlights lessons from Natech risk reduction practices undertaken by individual countries and recent minor Natech cases to fullfill gaps in effective risk management considering for cascading effects.