An Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report on Jamaica's catastrophe risk profile has revealed that the country is at risk of average annual losses of US$105 million due to hurricanes and US$30 million from earthquakes.

The study estimates the current exposure value of physical assets to earthquakes and hurricanes at approximately US$19 billion. These assets, the report said, mostly include transportation and communication infrastructure such as roads, bridges, residential commercial and industrial buildings and plants, and public utilities.

According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the study said the parishes with the highest population density — St Andrew, St Catherine, Kingston and Clarendon — were more at risk from hurricane hazards.

According to the report, Jamaica is located in a high seismic and hurricane hazard zone with potential to be impacted by great destructive events.

IDB division chief for rural development, environment and disaster risk management, Héctor Malarín, said,  "the figures will allow the government to make decisions regarding what is the best way to cope and reduce those expected losses that we have calculated".

The IDB has, at the same time, recommended that a more pro-active stance should be taken to disaster risk management and reduction; a comprehensive approach to include risk analysis, prevention and mitigation, financial protection and risk transfer, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and that emphasis should be placed on pre-disaster assistance.