As the climate changes, the impact of any disaster will increasingly depend not only on the primary event but also on the climatic conditions in which it unfolds. The Kumamoto earthquake shows how extreme heat can become a powerful disaster risk multiplier. A similar lesson emerged after the catastrophic western Japan floods of 2018, when a record-breaking heatwave, subsequently shown by research to have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change, compounded the disaster, increasing health risks and hampering recovery efforts.<\/p>\n
Together, these events demonstrate how heatwaves following other disasters can amplify the consequences.<\/p>\n
PLANNING AHEAD<\/p>\n
The Kumamoto earthquake shows that disaster resilience is no longer just about building stronger infrastructure or improving earthquake-resistant design. It also means preparing communities for multiple interacting hazards.<\/p>\n
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat, those planning for emergencies will have to factor this in.<\/p>\n
The question is no longer simply how societies respond to earthquakes or heatwaves separately, but how they prepare for all of these circumstances.<\/p>\n
As the world experiences more heatwaves, extreme temperatures will pose new challenges for disaster recovery during the hottest parts of the year.<\/p>\n