Dec 20, 2023

Epic earthquakes. Torrential floods. Raging bushfires. Nothing shatters the illusion of control we humans have over society quite like a natural disaster. With just one rumble from the lithosphere or a particularly heavy spell of rain, homes can crumble, economies can collapse, and populations can perish.

Can natural disasters be prevented? No, not exactly. But by learning more about them, we might be better prepared to act. Remote sensing, for instance, uses satellite and aerial images to assess natural disasters, giving us valuable intel to help us predict them, detect them, and lessen their impacts.

Here, we've taken maps from the world's new atlas to illustrate the effects of some of the most deadly natural disasters – as seen from above.

Floods in Libya, September 2023

A cyclone that tore across the Mediterranean coast of North Africa created a biblical-level flood in Libya. Derna, a coastal city at the mouth of a valley, saw its two dams burst from torrential rain from Storm Daniel. The once modest stream transformed into a towering 20-metre-high water wall, destroying everything in its wake.

Entire neighbourhoods were swept to sea. Over 4,000 people died. And a further 42,000 were displaced, many still struggling to come to grips with the devastation.

You can explore the devastation of natural disasters via remote sensing maps on Soar.

A map of Derna before the 2023 Libya floods, captured by high resolution satellite imagery.

A map of Derna after the 2023 Libya floods, captured by high resolution satellite imagery.

Earthquake in Morocco, September 2023

In September this year, a violent earthquake struck Morocco's Marrakesh–Safii region, claiming nearly 3,000 lives and wiping out 8% of the country’s GDP in damages. Amizmiz, a small Berber village on the foothills of the High Atlas Mountain range, bore the brunt of the casualties, with an estimated 2,000 people killed. Meanwhile, in the neighbouring rural Tafeghaghte (image below, 9th September 2023), nearly all the traditional stone homes collapsed into rubble, and 90 people died – around half of its entire population.

You can explore the impact of earthquakes via remote sensing maps on Soar, the world’s fastest growing digital atlas.

A map of Tafeghaghte after the 2023 earthquake captured by high resolution satellite imagery.

Floods in South Dakota, USA, June 1972

One night in June 1972, torrential rains turned a usually gentle creek into a roaring wall of water that ripped through Rapid City in South Dakota. Over 50 years on, the Rapid City Flood, also known as the Black Hills Flood, remains the most deadly and destructive deluge in US history. It claimed 238 deaths and destroyed about 1,335 homes and 5,000 automobiles. The total cost to the economy? A cool USD$1.12 billion in 2022 dollars

Explore the impact of natural disasters through aerial photography maps on our digital atlas.

A map of Rapid City, South Dakota before the 1972 flash flood, captured by aerial photography.

A map of Rapid City, South Dakota one day after the 1972 flash flood, captured by aerial photography.

Floods in California, USA, January 2023

In the last decade, an estimated half a million people have died globally in natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and cyclones. The takedown is usually swift. But the devastation can continue for decades as societies recover from the losses and rebuild buildings, industry, infrastructure, and farming.

Nature’s fury is a force, and these maps show the true extent of the destruction. But they could also offer a strategic advantage in predicting, detecting, and mitigating future disasters.

Explore Soar’s detailed archives to witness the transformation of landscapes before and after natural disasters, with detailed maps captured by remote sensing technologies.
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Discover the earth from a new perspective that could truly make a difference on the world’s new digital atlas.

A map of Sacramento during the floods, captured by Sentinel-1 Radar (SAR) satellite on 13th Jan 2023.

This blog was written by:

Sergio Volkmer

Sérgio is a mapping and remote sensing enthusiast, producing content for Soar. He studied geology and holds a Master of Philosophy, and is now an architect and contributor to OpenStreetMap and OpenData communities. He believes that information and knowledge are first steps towards personal fulfilment that lead to a better world.

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