60% urban areas exposed to natural disasters: UN

According to a new report released by the UN, among the 450 urban areas having a population of at least one million in 2011, almost 60% are exposed to the risk of a natural disaster. According to Nidhi Misra, writing for Live-Mint, the report, titled World urbanization prospects, the 2011 revision, highlights that the five most populated cities globally—Tokyo, Delhi, Ciudad de Mexico, New York-Newark and Shanghai—are all located in regions exposed to the risk of at least one major natural hazard, whether it is flooding, cyclones, droughts or earthquakes.

Dunu Roy, director of Hazards Centre, a Delhi-based non-government organization, calls for cities to follow good building regulations for both old and new constructions to be able to withstand floods and earthquakes. "More people are moving to cities with no knowledge of the disasters they could be exposed to. Cities must take the probability of such disasters seriously and discourage unplanned urbanization," said Roy, adding that urban expansion should be more horizontal than vertical to minimize the damage caused by natural disasters.