Landslides - World Health Organization (WHO) Landslides are more widespread than any other geological event, and can occur anywhere in the world They occur when large masses of soil, rocks or debris move down a slope due to a natural phenomenon or human activity Mudslides or debris flows are also a common type of fast-moving landslide Landslides can accompany heavy rains or follow droughts, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions Areas
September 2024 Floods and Landslides In the third week of September, Nepal experienced heavy and continuous rainfall, which caused widespread destruction across 21 districts, with seven being severely affected Over 50 health facilities sustained damage The relentless downpours led to severe flooding, landslides and road blockages, disrupting transportation, livelihoods and public safety on a large scale
Sri Lanka Floods and landslides – Cyclonic storm Ditwah November 2025 Sri Lanka is experiencing torrential rainfall, severe flooding and landslides as the northeast monsoon intensifies, worsened by the impact of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah which made landfall on the island’s eastern coast early morning on 28 November 2025 Cyclone Ditwah has resulted in a devastating nationwide emergency in Sri Lanka, affecting more than 1 4 million people from over 407,594 families
Volcanic eruptions - World Health Organization (WHO) Volcanic eruptions can pose multiple health threats depending on the proximity of the volcano to the community and whether there was any warning acute and chronic respiratory diseases from falling ash and breathing gases and fumes burns and traumatic injuries, such as lacerations from falling rock Ash and chemicals from the eruption can also generate risk of food and water contamination, and
Tsunamis - World Health Organization (WHO) Tsunamis are giant waves that are produced when a large volume of water is displaced in an ocean or large lake by an earthquake, volcanic eruption, underwater landslide or meteorite Between 1998-2017, tsunamis caused more than 250 000 deaths [KC1] globally, including more than 227 000 deaths due to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004
Communicable diseases following natural disasters Risk assessment and priority interventions Overview Natural disasters are catastrophic events with atmospheric, geologic and hydrologic origins They include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis, floods and drought Natural disasters can have rapid or slow onset, and serious health, social and economic consequences During the past two decades, natural disasters have killed
Earthquakes - World Health Organization (WHO) Earthquakes can strike suddenly and without warning An earthquake is a violent and abrupt shaking of the ground, caused by movement between tectonic plates along a fault line in the earth’s crust Earthquakes can result in the ground shaking, soil liquefaction, landslides, fissures, avalanches, fires and tsunamis The extent of destruction and harm caused by an earthquake depends on
Risk communication and community engagement Risk communication is the real-time exchange of information, advice and opinions between experts or officials and people who face a hazard or threat to their survival, health, or economic or social wellbeing The purpose of risk communication is to enable people at risk to make informed decisions to mitigate the effects of a threat (hazard) – such as a disease outbreak – and take
Tobacco 2025 Iran (Islamic Republic of) country profile Publications of the World Health Organization Overview The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic presents data on the tobacco epidemic and selected tobacco control measures adopted in 194 WHO Member States and 1 territory The country profiles provide detailed information on the measures adopted per country For further information, please refer to the latest report at https: www who int
Floods - World Health Organization (WHO) Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas Floods can cause widespread devastation, resulting in loss of life and damages to personal property and critical public health infrastructure