2006 was the least costly year of the last two decades in terms of natural disasters

According to figures compiled by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the economic costs of natural disasters around the world was much lower in 2006 than in 2005 and 2006 was the least costly year of the 2000s and 1990s. It was the first year since 1987 that annual reported economic damages from natural disasters dropped below $US 25 billion, when figures from those years are converted to 2006’s values.

China was the country most affected by natural disasters in 2006, with 35 specific major incidents. The US was in second place with 26 major incidents and Indonesia and the Philippines (20) followed in third place.

Flooding was the most frequent cause of major disasters, with incidents up by almost 40 percent in 2006 compared to 2005. Windstorms were the second highest cause, but these incidents dropped by 38 percent year-on-year.

To read a detailed statistical summary click here.

•Date: 27th Feb 2007 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: BC statistics
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