EM-DAT Overview

More than 27,000 disaster records

EM-DAT defines disasters as situations or events which overwhelm local capacity, necessitating a request for external assistance at the national or international level. Disasters are unforeseen and often sudden events that cause significant damage, destruction, and human suffering.

The main objective of the database is to serve the purposes ofhumanitarian action at national and international levels. The initiative aims to rationalize decision-making fordisaster preparedness anddisaster risk reduction strategies, as well as provide an objective base forvulnerability assessment and priority setting.

Inclusion criteria

EM-DAT focuses on major disasters

EM-DAT globally records at the country levelhuman and economic losses for disasters with at least one of the following criteria:

• 10 fatalities;
• 100 affected people;
• a declaration of state of emergency;
• a call for international assistance.

Disaster Classification

EM-DAT adopts a hierarchical classification

The database classifies disasters into two groups of hazards:natural andtechnological. The natural group is further classified up to four additional levels following the2014 IRDR Peril Classification and Hazard Glossary. The technological group is less detailed and comprises three main types: transport, industrial, and miscellaneous accidents.