Citation

Shah SS, Rana IA, Ali A. Int. J. Disaster Risk Reduct. 2023; 96: e103996.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103996

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The frequency and severity of disasters have witnessed a substantial increase in Pakistan. Gilgit city, located in the formidable Hindukush-Karakorum-Himalayan (HKH) region, like other mountainous valleys in the country, is under severe threat from the catastrophic consequences of disasters. The region has experienced frequent hazards such as floods, especially Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), landslides, and earthquakes in recent times. Therefore, it is imperative for the local communities to comprehend and evaluate the disaster risks to prepare for unforeseeable circumstances. The current study, therefore, quantifies risk perceptions of Gilgit citizens in a multi-hazard environment through perceived hazard, disruptions, and impacts dimensions. The primary data is collected via household surveys using a semi-structured questionnaire. The paired sampled test and index analysis have been applied to determine the perceived risks in a multi-hazard environment.

RESULTS of the study reveal that most respondents perceived the impacts of floods/GLOFs on daily life activities as the highest in a multi-hazard environment. The findings of this study will be helpful for urban planners, environmental scientists, and decision-makers to formulate policies that will ultimately increase community resilience to cope with the impacts of multi-hazards.

Language: en

Keywords

Natural hazards; Northern Pakistan; Perceptions; Risk reduction; Vulnerability