Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the second region most prone to natural disasters in the world, according to a new report from the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Since 2000, 152 million Latin Americans and of Caribbean have been affected by 1,205 major natural hazards, including floods, hurricanes, storms, earthquakes, droughts, avalanches, fires, extreme temperatures and volcanic events.

During the past 20 years, the region has faced an average of 17 hurricanes per year, including 23 in category 5.

Since 2000, the countries most affected by storms in the region have been Cuba, Mexico and Haiti with 110 storms, 5,000 dead, 29 million injured and $39 billion in total damage. More frequent and intense storms in the region mean there is less time to recover between events. It is important to note that more than 85% of storm-related deaths have been recorded in Haiti, considered to be the most vulnerable country in the Caribbean.

Over the past 20 years, the LAC region has experienced 75 earthquakes, which have left 226,000 dead and 339,000 injured. In total, these telluric phenomena affected 14 million people and caused damage estimated at 54 billion dollars.

The Strongest Earthquakes of the last 20 years in the region occurred in: Chile in 2010 (8.8 on the Richter scale); Peru in 2001 (8.4); Chile in 2015 (8.3); Chile in 2014 (8.3); Peru in 2007 (8.0); Ecuador in 2016 (7.8); El Salvador in 2001 (7.7) and Haiti in 2010 (7.2).

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic event multiplied by the extreme vulnerability of the population and the lack of preparation and responsiveness of the national authorities. Unlike Haiti, Chile has strict building codes, performs periodic evacuation simulations and has systems to alert the population before an earthquake. In 2010 alone, Haiti caused 98% of the deaths, 89% of the injuries and 27% of those affected by the earthquakes in the past 20 years in the Caribbean.

HL/ HaitiLibre