The impact of natural disasters on social resilience and the health of the population

On December 18, 2020, the village of Seyðisfjörður, located on the East coast of Iceland, was struck by a significant mudslide. This event followed an extended period of unusual rainfall, atypical for a season generally dominated by snowfall. Such weather anomalies are likely linked to climate change, contributing to rising temperatures, increased precipitation, intensified wind and more frequent flooding over recent years. The mudslide destroyed ten residential structures and necessitated the evacuation of the village's approximately 700 residents for one week. A subsequent study was conducted to evaluate the effects of this natural disaster on the social resilience and overall well-being of the community. Social resilience refers to the ability of a community to adapt to challenges and recover from adverse events, which can mitigate long-term consequences, including demographic decline. The effects of the mudslides imposed significant challenges on the residents of Seyðisfjörður, altering their perceptions of the surrounding mountainous landscape and environment. Data collection for the study involved interviews with residents, focusing on their physical health, trauma symptoms, and reactions to the landslide. Findings revealed that nearly half of the interviewees scored in the harmful stress range for post-traumatic stress as assessed by the PSS-4 scale. Additionally, heightened apprehension regarding weather conditions, particularly rainfall, aggravated and prolonged psychological distress among community members. Nevertheless, residents expressed general satisfaction with the clean-up and replanting efforts, noting positive psychological effects from these initiatives. It is imperative to continue monitoring developments in Seyðisfjörður while prioritizing the needs and well-being of its residents moving forward.