Abstract:

Debris flow is one of the geomorphic hazards. The economic losses caused by debris flows are not yet accounted precisely at present. One of causes is the statistics is not specified for each kind of disasters by different type of natural hazards; another cause is the problems of disaster loss statistics, i.e., quantitative disaster loss estimation have not been solved yet till now. Among the disaster losses, the direct economic loss estimation depends on technical method; while the indirect economic loss estimation depends not only technical supports but also scientific bases. Therefore, there is not acknowledged method for the quantitative estimation of indirect economic losses of disasters. The present paper proposes two estimation methods: one is survey analysis, and another is proportional coefficient. The former is feasible in theory but unfeasible in actuality, and is only a scheme; the latter is practicable but empirical, and is only a crude estimation. Considering the needs of disaster reduction and mitigation currently, the method of proportional coefficient for estimation of indirect economic losses of disasters is recommended.

Key words: geomorphic hazards, debris flow, indirect economic losses, proportional coefficient method