These disasters helped push the total damage caused by natural catastrophes to $175 billion in 2016, according to the German reinsurance firm Munich RE.
The global cost was the highest in four years. Only 30% of the losses — $50 billion — were insured, according to Munich RE.
The costliest disasters were in Asia. Two earthquakes in Japan combined to produce $31 billion in losses, while floods that struck China during the summer caused $20 billion in damage.
n North America, the costliest single event was Hurricane Matthew, which killed hundreds of people in Haiti and produced $10 billion in damage.
But the continent was hit by a total of 160 disaster events in 2016, which is more than any year since 1980.
“There are now many indications that certain events — such as persistent weather systems or storms bringing torrential rain and hail — are more likely to occur in certain regions as a result of climate change,” he said.
The insurer said that 8,700 people were killed by natural disasters in 2016. That’s down from 25,400 in 2015.
CNN
UM– USEKE.RW
