Netherlands most dangerous place in Europe to live

The past few weeks, country after country hit by an earthquake: Ecuador, Japan ... Meanwhile there were floods in Chile and parts of the United States. But where is the chance well largest that you will be hit by such a natural disaster? In the World Risk Report carried out by the United Nations University 171 countries are examined.

The number 1 With dot on one: Vanuatu. On the Group of islands in Oceania you have the greatest opportunity to be affected by natural disasters. Then it goes mainly to floods, but also to earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions. It is not the only island group in the list. The sea is one of the greatest dangers. Also countries around the Equator are more at risk, especially by extreme weather.

But the location in sea is not the only factor that Vanuatu vulnerable. The study also looked at the extent to which a country can absorb such risks, and how many people are affected when a disaster occurs. Richer countries, with more risk prevention, more opportunities for their inhabitants to help and more money to repair damage decrease the chance of a disaster.

So Japan is in reality the most dangerous country in the world-on-three after to live. It is not only surrounded by sea, but is also on a fault line making it a great chance on earthquakes. So last week was hit by a series of earthquakes and tsunami 15000 people took to life in 2011. But by building safe and good warning systems to reduce the risks they know something; and so it says in the list at place 17.

The opposite is happening in a country like Liberia. The chance of a natural disaster is nil, but because the African country so bad is prepared, is it still on place 57. The safest country in the world is Qatar: in the last 25 years there is no natural disaster occurred.

How about in Netherlands?
And Netherlands ...? By our low location, a large part of the Netherlands is below sea level, is the ' life-threatening ' to live in Netherlands. We are the most dangerous country in Europe. And if we had, we would not as good for each other just as unsafe as Bangladesh, the country that in the list at place 6.

But thanks to our dikes, delta works, infrastructure and our wealth, we reduce the risks: we are at place 50. So a mid-table Club in the list. Although you cannot prevent a disaster, of course, can absorb the Netherlands risks properly. And that is a nice thought.

By RTL News/Deirdre Das Photo: AFP

The top five most dangerous countries is as follows:

1. Vanuatu

2. Tonga

3. Philippines

4. Guatemala

5. Solomon Islands