Impact of Natural Disasters, Psychological and Physical Effects on the Population

A natural hazard is a geophysical, atmospheric or hydrological event (e.g., earthquake, landslide, tsunami, windstorm, flood or drought) that has the potential to cause harm or loss, while a natural disaster is the occurrence of an extremely hazardous event that impacts on communities causing damage, disruption, and casualties, and leaving the affected communities unable to function normally without outside assistance. The definition of natural disaster impact (NDI) can change according to both the aim of the study and the scientist assessing it. It can be defined as constituting the direct, indirect and intangible losses caused by the environment and society by a natural disaster.