2010: The Year of Disasters

2010 Likely the Most Disastrous Year on Record: FEWW

A Disaster a Day Image: Brazil Mudslides – January 1, 2010

Flooding and Mudslides left up to 50 people dead in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state on Friday. The authorities expect the  death toll to rise as more heavy rains are forecast.

DAY One: Mudslides in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state

An aerial view of Pousada Sankay hotel buried by a mudslide in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro state January 1, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Bruno Domingos. Image may be subject to copyright.

The exclusive Sankay hotel and surrounding homes collapsed under a mountain of mud in the beach resort of Angra dos Reis, one of Brazil’s most sought-after tourism destinations, Reuters reported the Rio de Janeiro state’s civil defense as saying.

Of the 40 registered guests and the many hotel employees, only 22 bodies were recovered, as of posting.

Heavy rains triggered floods and mudslides on Thursday leaving about  20 people dead mostly in poor areas across Rio state, Brazil’s 3rd most populous region.

FEWW Forecast: In line with its concept of a Shrinking World, and based on FEWW EarthModel and EDRO Energy Models simulations, Fire-Earth Moderators believe at least one disaster could strike somewhere on the planet each day, throughout 2010. The outlook for 2011 and beyond …

FEWW Definition of Disaster:
Adopted from CRED, Fire-Earth considers an event a disaster if fits at least one of the following criteria:

• At least 10 people were killed.
• The event affected 100 or more people.
• A state of emergency was declared.
• A disaster was declared.
• Federal or international assistance was requested.

UNISDR definition of disaster:
A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

Related Links:

• Storms, Extreme Rain Events, Floods, Landslides
• Drought and Deluge
• FEWW FORECAST: 2009 Likely Wettest Year on Record
• 2010: Year One of Human-Enhanced Disasters