katastrofi

Katastrofi is a term used in several languages to denote a catastrophe or disaster. In a broad sense, it refers to an event or sequence of events that causes widespread damage, loss of life, or severe disruption to essential services. Disasters result from the interaction of hazards with exposure and vulnerability, and their severity is judged by the consequences rather than the origin of the event.

Natural disasters arise from geophysical, meteorological, hydrological, or biological hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires. Human-made or technological disasters stem from industrial accidents, transportation crashes, chemical or nuclear releases, infrastructure failures, and pandemics. Some events are hybrid, where hazard exposure and social factors such as conflict or poverty intensify the impact.

Impacts span health, safety, housing, economies, ecosystems, and social stability. Immediate responses focus on rescue, medical care, evacuation, and humanitarian aid, while longer-term recovery addresses reconstruction and resilience. Mitigation seeks to reduce risk before events occur through land-use planning, building codes, early warning systems, public education, and resilient infrastructure.

Global disaster risk reduction is coordinated through international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework, which promotes reducing risk factors, improving preparedness, and strengthening governance. Data collection, risk assessment, and climate adaptation are central to modern disaster management. The term 'katastrofi' thus encapsulates events whose costly consequences demand coordinated, cross-sector action.