Disaster Hotspot. The Philippines is considered a disaster hotspot, susceptible to volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis and floods.

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Exam Question - Choose either the Philippines or California and explain why it is considered a disaster hotspot. (10 marks)

The Philippines is considered a disaster hotspot, susceptible to volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis and floods. The Philippines in very vulnerable to hazards as poverty and human development is so variable; in outlying areas and small islands. Increasing urbanisation can add to earthquake and typhoon vulnerability. Physical factors have also affected the vulnerability of The Philippines, such as slopes, increase land degradation and deforestation have increased susceptibility to secondary hazards such as landslides during earthquakes and flash flooding during typhoons.

A disaster hotspot is a location with risk from two or more hazard groups: tectonic hazards (geophysical) and hydro-meteorological hazards. This means they are likely to be where plate boundaries intersect with major storm belts and they are also in areas of high human concentration in low or medium developed countries because this effects whether or not the country will be prepared thoroughly enough and whether it can recover quickly.

The Philippines lies on the boundary between the Philippine and Eurasian tectonic plates, the Eurasian Plate is forced beneath the Philippine. The plates move in a series of