Die Anschläge in New York und Washington am 11

Earthquakes 
The level of danger resulting from earthquakes inevitably 
rises according to the intensity of the earthquake. Depending 
on geological parameters such as soil characteristics, 
however, weaker earthquakes can also cause extensive 
damage to buildings and infrastructures. Secondary damage 
such as fires and tidal waves may also require consideration. 

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Key regions subject to a risk of earthquakes in Germany 
include the Kölner Bucht area to the west of Cologne, the 
Rhinegraben (Rhine rift system) and the Vogtland area.
Conflagrations 
Conflagrations can be caused naturally by lightning, by 
spontaneous combustion or by wilful or negligent arson in 
combination with prolonged dry periods. The primary threat is 
to wooded areas, agricultural land and heathland. 
Mass movements 
Mass movements are caused by geophysical events (e.g. 
earthquakes, weathering), meteorological influences (e.g. 
heavy precipitation, flooding, snow and ice melts) and by 
anthropogenic influences (e.g. building measures, shock, 
deforestation). Examples of mass movements are 
avalanches, mudflows, hillside landslides and liquefaction of 
the soil.
Apart from direct damage, mass movements can also give 
rise to indirect hazards, by creating tidal waves in lakes or 
reservoirs or damming up rivers which subsequently burst 
free.
Epidemics 
The term ‘epidemic’ refers to the occurrence of an infectious 
disease among humans or animals at high incidence within a 
short period of time over a broad geographic area. An 
increased risk of epidemics results from the global movement 
of goods, global tourism, intensive livestock farming, floods 
and droughts, for example.
A pandemic is an epidemic which spreads throughout 
several countries or even worldwide.

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