The correct answer is: b) Urban areas.
Population density and unplanned development can increase the impact of natural hazards in urban areas because:
- Urban areas are more likely to be located in areas that are prone to natural hazards, such as coastal zones, floodplains, and earthquake zones.
- Urban areas are more likely to have infrastructure that is vulnerable to natural hazards, such as buildings, roads, and bridges.
- Urban areas are more likely to have a large number of people who are at risk from natural hazards.
In contrast, rural areas are less likely to be located in areas that are prone to natural hazards, and they are less likely to have infrastructure that is vulnerable to natural hazards. Additionally, rural areas tend to have a lower population density, which means that there are fewer people who are at risk from natural hazards.
Hilly regions and coastal zones can also be affected by natural hazards, but they are not as likely to be affected by population density and unplanned development as urban areas. This is because hilly regions and coastal zones are often less developed than urban areas, and they are less likely to have large populations.