Major disasters roundup: July 2013

Impact Forecasting, the catastrophe model development center of excellence at Aon Benfield, has released the latest edition of its monthly Global Catastrophe Recap report, which reviews the major natural disasters that occurred worldwide during July 2013.

The report reveals that strong thunderstorms brought record rainfall to the greater Toronto metropolitan region, resulting in Canada's second billion-dollar natural disaster event of 2013 – the first being an extensive flood event that inundated the province of Alberta in June.
No fatalities or serious injuries were reported amid the flooding and power outages, and total economic losses were estimated to approach CAD1.5 billion (USD1.45 billion), with an expectation that roughly half of that cost will be covered by insurance (CAD750 million (USD730 million)).

Meanwhile, three stretches of severe weather impacted the United States during the month, comprising highly damaging straight-line winds and hail. Total combined economic and insured losses were expected to reach hundreds of millions of dollars (USD).

Elsewhere during the month, seasonal rainfall swept across several Asian countries:

China was among the hardest-hit, with three stretches of severe rainfall killing more than 225 people and causing economic losses in excess of USD1.0 billion.

Monsoon rains prompted renewed flooding and landslides in northern India, killing at least 174 people in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Elsewhere in Asia, excessive rainfall resulted in dozens of casualties and severe damage across Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and North Korea.

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake occurred in China's Gansu Province, killing at least 95 people, injuring 2,840 others, and causing total economic losses at CNY20 billion (USD3.25 billion) according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA), with an estimated 80,000 homes damaged or destroyed.

Also in Asia, a magnitude-6.1 earthquake impacted Indonesia's Aceh Province, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 2,362 others. The heaviest damage was recorded in the districts of Bener Meriah and Central Aceh, where a combined 16,019 homes and 626 public facilities were damaged or destroyed.

In New Zealand, a magnitude-6.5 earthquake occurred in the Cook Strait causing minor damage across the North and South islands. Four people were injured and the New Zealand Earthquake Commission (EQC) reported that at least 3,128 insurance claims had been filed, resulting in an estimated insured loss of NZD50 million (USD40 million).

Three tropical cyclones affected Asia during July, the costliest being Super Typhoon Soulik, which caused USD460 million in economic damages after making landfall in Taiwan and China. Meanwhile, Typhoon Rumbia caused economic losses of USD177 million in China after affecting the provincial regions of Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan; and Tropical Storm Cimaron made landfall in China's Fujian Province, causing an estimated USD253 million in economic damages.

Hurricane Erick skirted the western Mexico coastline, killing two people; while Tropical Storm Chantal degenerated while crossing the Caribbean Sea

View the full report (PDF).

•Date: 8th August 2013 • World •Type: Article • Topic: DR general

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