%D 2021
%X On 13 May 2000, two disastrous explosions in a firework depot destroyed a large part of Roombeek, Enschede, the Netherlands. A total of 23 people were killed and over 900 were injured. Usng the Enschede fireworks disaster as a case study, this paper aimed to investigate the social dimensions of disasters, including the social preconditions, the negative social impacts and to what extent community resilience contributes to deal with these impacts. The main research question was: How did the social dimensions, including the social preconditions and the community resilience influence the negative social impacts of the Enschede fireworks disaster? The report of Commission Oosting (2001), the legal proceedings and the socio-economic status of Roombeek showed that the community was already vulnerable for a hazard to turn into a disaster. These preconditions also exacerbated the negative social impacts. The community resilience was shown through various ways, and it was found that they did somewhat reduce the negative social impacts. Due to limitations with regards to the interviewees, further research is required to understand how community resilience can be enhanced after a disaster.
%L theses_frw3502
%A J. Bouwman
%T The Social Dimensions of Disasters: Understanding the Enschede Fireworks Disaster