Managing disaster in the marine sector

Abstract

The coastal region is one of the most vulnerable disaster-prone regions on the surface of planet earth. A wide range of natural, technological and environmental hazards can lead to disasters in the coastal region. This range from simple sea erosion and oil spills to devastating tsunamis and major fires. Historical information on the coastal disasters are scanty except for cyclones, coastal erosions, oil spills and floods. The 2004 tsunami in the Andamans and mainland India has brought to focus the relevance of natural disasters, the vulnerability of people living in the coastal regions, the inadequacy and un-preparedness of the administrative mechanisms to cope with the fall outs and the enormity of the problems and issues in the management and rehabilitation processes.