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Natural Disaster Risk Assessment in Countries Along the Maritime Silk Road

Author

Listed:
  • Chen Xu

    (State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Juanle Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences—Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (CAS-HEC), Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
    Jiangsu Centre for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Jingxuan Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Huairui Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences—Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (CAS-HEC), Islamabad 45320, Pakistan)

Abstract

The 21st‑century Maritime Silk Road initiative highlights the importance of oceans as hubs for resources, ecology, and trade, yet a comprehensive understanding of marine natural disaster risks within this region remains limited. This study focused on 30 countries along the Maritime Silk Road and developed a multi-hazard natural disaster risk assessment framework tailored for large-scale regional evaluation. It goes beyond single-factor or single-disaster assessments to enhance disaster resilience and support effective disaster response strategies. The framework integrates 65 indicators across four dimensions: disaster-causing factors, disaster-conceiving environments, disaster-bearing bodies, and disaster reduction capacities. It employs five single-indicator evaluation models alongside a combination assessment method based on maximum deviations to evaluate national-scale natural disaster risks. Results reveal spatial consistency in risk evaluations and capture the exposure and sensitivity of 30 countries to different hazards. South Asia exhibits higher seismic risks, while Saudi Arabia consistently receives the lowest risk. Tropical countries like Vietnam and the Philippines face significant storm risks. Drought hazard risk is higher in the Middle East and East Africa, while it is lower in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Flood risks are notably higher in Bangladesh, while Iran and Tanzania consistently receive lower risk ratings. Overall, South Asia exhibits higher multi-hazard risks, with medium-to-low risks along the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia. These findings provide technical support for disaster risk reduction by identifying high-risk areas, prioritising resource allocation, and strengthening disaster reduction strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen Xu & Juanle Wang & Jingxuan Liu & Huairui Wang, 2025. "Natural Disaster Risk Assessment in Countries Along the Maritime Silk Road," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-29, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3219-:d:1628194
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    References listed on IDEAS

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