Erick Burgueño Salas
Research expert covering climate change and the water industry
Natural disasters in Latin America – statistics & facts
With an area of more than 20 million square kilometers, spanning across Earth’s north and south hemispheres, Latin America withstands several natural hazards every year. Natural disasters are extreme environmental events caused by geological processes or weather conditions such as seismic activity, tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall, or drought. In recent years, the deadliest natural catastrophes to occur in Latin America was the earthquake in Haiti in 2021, which left over 2,000 people dead. Other deadly catastrophes include the Brumadinho mudslide in Brazil in 2019 and Hurricane Ian in 2020.
Water scarcity, on the other hand, is one of the most pressing issues for Latin American countries with vast arid or desertic territory, especially those located within the Andean region. According to a recent study, Bolivia was the Latin American country most vulnerable to drought, in terms of frequency and estimated impact. Another recent assessment revealed Chile and Mexico to be the most exposed states to water stress in the region, measured by the intensity of water use and its available, renewable supply. Drought was the event affecting the largest number of people in the Latin America and the Caribbean between 2000 and 2022, with more than 50 million people affected.
In terms of number of people affected by climate-change related catastrophes in Latin America, more than 80 million people were directly affected in the past ten years. 2014 was the most affected year, with 32 million people affected by heavy rain and floods in various South American countries.
Water-related disasters: the greatest challenge
Water can be both a bliss and a curse. Massive rainfall, river overflows, and deficient infrastructure often put Latin American communities on the verge of crisis and destruction. Floods have been the most common type of natural disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2000 to 2022. Colombia was the country with the most people affected by flooding in the region, with around 10.5 million impacted. During the same period, 9.2 million people living in Brazil got affected by flooding events, making it the second-most impacted Latin American country.Water scarcity, on the other hand, is one of the most pressing issues for Latin American countries with vast arid or desertic territory, especially those located within the Andean region. According to a recent study, Bolivia was the Latin American country most vulnerable to drought, in terms of frequency and estimated impact. Another recent assessment revealed Chile and Mexico to be the most exposed states to water stress in the region, measured by the intensity of water use and its available, renewable supply. Drought was the event affecting the largest number of people in the Latin America and the Caribbean between 2000 and 2022, with more than 50 million people affected.
Impact of climate change-related disasters in the region
With the increase in global temperatures, climate patterns are being affected, leading to more unpredictable and impactful weather events. For instance, in 2017, the costs of climate change-related disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean reached almost 85 billion U.S. dollars, making it the costliest year in that regard since the beginning of the century. During that year, hurricane Maria devastated the northeast Caribbean, striking notably Puerto Rico and Dominica.In terms of number of people affected by climate-change related catastrophes in Latin America, more than 80 million people were directly affected in the past ten years. 2014 was the most affected year, with 32 million people affected by heavy rain and floods in various South American countries.
