What are the most common and widespread natural disasters?

Floods are recognized as the most common and widespread natural disasters due to their versatility in occurrence across various geographic locations and climatic conditions. They can arise from a range of circumstances, including heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, storm surges during hurricanes, and dam failures. This allows floods to happen in diverse environments, affecting both urban and rural areas globally.

Moreover, the impact of floods can be profound, causing substantial damage to infrastructure, homes, and the natural environment, as well as leading to significant economic losses and endangering lives. The frequency and probability of flooding events in many regions lead to them being categorized as prevalent natural disasters, further emphasized by their extensive socio-economic effects.

While earthquakes, wildfires, and tsunamis also pose serious risks, their occurrences are typically more geographically restricted or require specific conditions to develop. For instance, tsunamis are largely dependent on underwater seismic activity, making them less frequent on a global scale in comparison to floods, which can occur in many settings and frequently overlap with other environmental changes.