Natural Disaster A natural disaster is a disaster caused by nature, such as floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches, lahars

(volcanic mudslides), landslides, sinkholes, blizzards, drought, hailstorms, heat waves, hurricanes, tropical storms, typhoons, Ice Ages, tornadoes, and wildfires. Epidemics caused by bacteria or viruses are sometimes considered natural disasters, but sometimes put into a different category. A biological threat such as locusts or toxic fungi could also be considered a natural disaster (Michael Anissimov, 2003-2011). Natural disaster means a disaster that caused by natural forces rather than by human action.

Natural disasters are naturally occurring, and examples are earthquake, volcanic eruption, hurricane, tornado, ice storm, flood, flashflood, landslide, wildfire, insect infestation, and disease outbreaks. These kinds of disasters may be further sub classified as meteorological, oceanographic (tsunami or sea storm), hydrological, or biological events (Weisenmiller (as cited in O'Connor, T, 2010). Natural disaster is the effect of the natural hazard. Probably, natural disaster occurs due to natural process that causes severe damage to the society. The damage depends on the capacity of the population to resist or support and resilience of the disaster.

Generally, natural disaster could happen for over and over in some countries. It may strikes according to the vulnerability of the area. Among all the natural disasters that countries face, earthquakes and tsunami which happened in Banda Aceh at the quake struck 214km (133 miles) that killed about 220,000 people is the biggest natural disaster. Actually, different countries have faced some severe earthquakes even tsunami like was happened in Japan where causing widespread damage to the life and property.

As conclusion, a disaster can happen anywhere and anytime but commonly a disaster only occurs in a constructed or built environment where human activity has taken place. In other words, a disaster cannot occur in an uninhabited area that has never been touched by humans. as Loretti (2000) puts it; "if people are not involved, there is no disaster." (Loretti (as cited in O'Connor, T, 2010).

List of References

Michael, A. 2003-2011. What is a Natural Disaster? Retrieved on Mei 31, 2011 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-natural-disaster.htm O'Connor, T. 2010. Overview of Natural and Unnatural Disasters. Retrieved on Mei 31, 2011 from http://www.drtomoconnor.com

News, bbc. 2010. Earthquake off Indonesia's Aceh triggers tsunami alert. Retrieved on Mei 31, 2011 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8670593.stm