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Designing risk models

Risk models are a representation of reality, but are only as good as the data used. The convergence of public and private sector risk modelling efforts promises to increase the availability of open access, open source risk information that can be used by business, government, insurance and citizens alike (UNISDR, 2013). However, while the experts developing these models clearly understand their limitations, especially at subnational levels, DRR practitioners using the information produced by these models may understand these limitations less well (GFDRR, 2014a). Though important challenges remain in assessing risk, more hazard data and models are available; tools and models for identifying, analysing, and managing risk have grown in number and utility; and risk data and tools are increasingly being made freely available to users as part of a larger global trend towards open data (GFDRR, 2014a). More generally, and in contrast to 2005, today there is a deeper understanding—...

Japan earthquake by Amani Hughes

Where did Hokkaido earthquake hit? Japan has experienced another natural disaster in the form of a magnitude 6.6 earthquake which has killed two people and left 120 injured. The major tremor hit Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday just before dawn local time. The quake, which struck 27km east of Tomakomai, knocked out power to Hokkaido’s 5.3 million residents. Despite the tremor hitting at a depth of 33.4 km (20.8 miles), the earthquake caused major destruction and led to major landslides which buried a number of homes at the foot of a ridge. The majority of people were inured in Hokkaido’s capital Sapporo, Kazuya Isaki, an official with the Crisis Management Office of Hokkaido Prefecture Government. In Atsuma in southern Hokkaido, near the epicentre of the quake, aerial footage showed dozens of landslides exposing barren hillsides with mount of reddish earth and toppled trees piled up at the edge of green fields. The powerful earthquake ...

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