NATECH, Technological Disasters Caused by Natural Hazards – State of the Art

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the Natech phenomenon, which refers to technological disasters triggered by natural hazards, within the Colombian context. Given the country’s exposure to a wide range of natural threats—such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and volcanic eruptions—it is essential to identify how these events can lead to technological incidents that severely affect industrial infrastructure, environmental safety, and public health.

Through a state-of-the-art review and analysis of potential scenarios in the nation’s industrialized zones, this research seeks to identify existing gaps in preparedness and response to technological risks caused by natural disasters. The main objective is to characterize such scenarios and propose risk management strategies to enhance response capacity to Natech events. The study concludes that Colombia needs greater