What can we learn from global disaster records about multi-hazards and their risk dynamics?

This study analyses global disaster data from EM-DAT (2000–2018) to better understand how multi-hazard events amplify impacts compared to single hazards. Using a new algorithm to identify multi-hazard occurrences through associated hazards and spatiotemporal overlap, the authors show that these events account for the majority of reported damages, people affected and deaths. The findings reveal distinct compounding impact patterns across hazard types and underscore the need for generic archetypes to improve multi-hazard risk assessment. Despite data limitations, the study highlights EM-DAT’s value for identifying global trends and calls for enhanced reporting to strengthen future multi-hazard research.