Urbanization as a Driver of Flood Disaster Events: A Study Based on Sri Lankan Flood Events

Abstract

The frequency of natural disasters has increased over time with the alteration of ecological systems due to increasing urban populations. Analysis was carried out to investigate this relationship between urban population growth and disaster impacts, based on Sri Lankan percentage urban population, flood disaster occurrence and flood impact, using SPSS and Excel. Results showed in increase in flood events and impacts with the increasing urbanization. Due easy and quality access to facilities, infrastructure and services, people are attracted towards cities. In general, the ecosystems and the earth are formed naturally in a way to maintain and balance the natural disaster phenomena and to reduce the impact. However, at present, as the naturally available space in the city areas to supply the needs is less than what is expected, people tend to alter the natural ecosystems to develop settlements, industries and cultivations creating and inducing the disaster prevalence and related impacts