Landslide risk index map of Cuba 1:1,000,000

Abstract

Landslides cause a considerable amount of damage in the mountainous regions of Cuba, which cover about 25% of the country. The national landslide inventory shows that a significant number of people are affected by landslide disaster events, and usually suffer economic loss (as recorded Castellanos and Van Westen, 2005). Although the Cuban system for natural disaster management is recognised by international organisations as a ‘good example’, worthy of being followed by neighbouring countries (ISDR, 2004), Cuba’s economic losses due to continued natural disasters is still on the increase. Only for 2004, Charley and Ivan hurricanes caused a total damage worth 2,146 million USD and resulted in 5,360 houses completely destroyed and 100,266 partially damaged (Rodríguez, 2004). In order to reduce disaster losses, the Civil Defence authorities are putting emphasis both on improving existing disaster preparedness and response planning, as well as on risk reduction planning, which must be based on multi-hazard risk assessment at all management levels.