Priorities for natural disaster risk reduction in Central America

Abstract

Central America is known for its high risk of disasters due to various physical, economic, and sociocultural factors. The region sits on the following tectonic plates: North America, Cocos, Caribbean, Nazca, and Panama, which results in frequent seismic and volcanic activity, intensified by meteorological events like the Intertropical Convergence, cold fronts, tropical cyclones, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and droughts. These events can alter the climate and geomorphology, making the population more vulnerable to disasters such as landslides and floods. Disasters have been increasing in frequency and severity in Central America over the past two decades.