Author(s)

LUIS IZQUIERDO-HORNA, YUSTIN YEPEZ

Abstract

Traditionally, seismic vulnerability has been assessed considering, for the most part, infrastructure as the main evaluation component, leaving aside other dimensions of study. This result does not adequately evaluate all the anthropogenic characteristics that make a certain system more susceptible to experiencing economic, patrimonial, and human losses in the face of natural phenomena. In this context, Peru is exposed to many different phenomena of the earth’s internal and external geodynamics (i.e., earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanism, mass movements, heavy rains, drought, etc.), earthquakes being the ones that have caused the most damage and repercussions. It is for the latter, considering that seismic hazards are determined by the geographical conditions of the study area, that the main objective of this review is to study and highlight different perspectives of vulnerability analysis (i.e., social, cultural, economic, etc.) when seismic events happen. This review shows the main assessment parameters used to describe each dimension of analysis and in addition, a review of the main existing methodological frameworks is carried out, aimed at showing a comprehensive perspective of the context analyzed in order to improve the conditions and livelihoods of the population exposed to these hazards.

Keywords

seismic vulnerability, vulnerability dimensions, earthquakes, risk and disaster management, Peru