The accelerated, and often uncontrolled, growth of the cities has
contributed to the ecological transformation of their immediate
surroundings. Factors contributing to the urban vulnerability include:
lowering or rising of the water table, subsidence, loss of bearing
capacity of soil foundations and instability of slopes. Recent
catastrophic earthquakes highlight the poor understanding by decision
makers of seismic related risk, as well as the tendency of some builders
to use the cheapest designs and construction materials to increase
short-term economic returns on their investment.
Losses from earthquakes will continue to increase if we do not shift
towards proactive solution. Disaster reduction is both an issue for
consideration in the sustainable development agenda and a cross-cutting
issue relating to the social, economic, environmental and humanitarian
sectors. As location is the key factor, which determines the level of
risk associated with a hazard, land-use plans and mapping should be used
as tools to identify the most suitable usage for vulnerable areas.