natural hazards triggering technological accidents

Otherwise known as Natechs, these refer to natural hazards triggering a technological accident that arises from the coincident effects of a natural hazard, such as a storm or earthquake, and the failure or disruption of technological infrastructure, such as chemical plant spills, releases, and explosions. For example, chemical plants can be particularly vulnerable to seismic forces due to their complex systems that consist of numerous pipes, vessels, connections, and other components. Damage to a single element may result in the failure of entire systems, possibly resulting in fires, explosions, and the release of hazardous substances. While a flange opening or a weld breaking may seem insignificant from a structural point of view, they could lead to considerable cascading accidents and losses at a chemical processing facility