2023 among deadliest and costliest years for natural disasters
The Straits Times|January 10, 2024
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2023 among deadliest and costliest years for natural disasters

Devastating earthquakes and record losses from storms made 2023 among the deadliest and most costly years for natural disasters for more than a decade, global reinsurer Munich Re said in its annual catastrophe report released on Jan 9. 

About 74,000 people died in 2023, with losses from natural disasters totalling US$250 billion (S$333 billion), the same as in 2022. Earthquakes in Turkey, Syria, Morocco and Afghanistan killed about 63,000 people – the highest since 2010 for geophysical hazards.

For all of 2023, insured losses totalled US$95 billion, compared with US$125 billion for 2022 and the five-year average of US$105 billion, Munich Re said. Insurers calculate both overall losses from disasters and how much was actually insured.

Severe storms dominated economic losses from natural disasters: 76 per cent of overall losses in 2023 were weather-related, Munich Re said, underscoring growing risks from worsening extreme weather fuelled by climate change.

Thunderstorms in North America and Europe racked up overall losses of US$76 billion and insured losses of US$58 billion.

“Such high thunderstorm losses have never been recorded before in the United States or in Europe,” said Munich Re.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 10, 2024 من The Straits Times.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 10, 2024 من The Straits Times.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

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