The risk identification, assessment and reduction are indispensable steps on the way of the sustainable development of the countries. Risk assessment requires a multidisciplinary approach that takes into account not only the expected physical damage, the number and type of casualties or the economic losses, but also other social, organizational and institutional factors that contribute to risk. At urban level, for example, vulnerability should be related not only to the physical susceptibility of buildings and infrastructure, butalso to the social fragility and the lack of resilience of the exposed community. The absence of institutional and community organization, weak preparedness for emergency response, political instability and lack of economic health, which are development problems, contribute to increasing of risk in a geographical area. This article presents and applies a methodology for evaluating risk in urban center using a holistic approach. A multidisciplinary estimation of risk to guide the decision making, that takes into account geophysical and structural aspects, and also social, economic, institutional variables, among others, is considered here as holistic approach, involving all the aspects and comprehensive. The paper includes four case studies, the cities of: Barcelona, Spain; Bogotá and Manizales, Colombia; and Metro-Manila, The Philippines.

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