Question: Which one of the following is not a natural disaster?
A Cyclone
B Earthquake
C Volcanic eruptions
D Oil spills
Answer: Oil spills
| Characteristic | Natural Disaster | Man-Made Disasters |
| Cause | Result from natural processes and events. | Result from human actions, negligence, or design. |
| Examples
|
· Earthquakes
· Hurricanes · Tsunamis · Wildfires · Volcanic eruptions · Floods
|
· Industrial accidents (e.g., chemical spills)
· Nuclear accidents (e.g., Chernobyl) · Terrorism attacks · Armed conflicts (e.g., war and civil unrest) · Polluting the air due to the use of automobiles · Oil spills in oceans by ships |
| Predictability | Some natural disasters can be predicted to varying degrees. | May be more predictable in some cases, such as accidents, but not always preventable. |
| Frequency | Occur relatively infrequently but are recurring events in specific geographic regions. | Can occur at any time and may be influenced by human activities and decisions. |
| Human Intervention | Limited ability to prevent natural disasters, but mitigation measures can reduce their impact (e.g., building codes, flood control). | Can be prevented through improved safety practices, regulations and international cooperation. |
| Environmental Impact | Can have significant environmental consequences, such as habitat disruption, soil erosion, air and water pollution etc. | Often result in immediate and long-term environmental damage, including pollution, habitat destruction, ecological disruption and climate change. |
| Response | Typically involves emergency response, relief efforts, and recovery strategies to rebuild affected areas. | Requires coordinated response efforts, often involving emergency services and government agencies etc. |
| Global Implications | Natural disasters can have regional and global effects. | Man-made disasters can have global consequences such as climate change resulting from human activities. |