China flood death toll8/17/2023 ![]() ![]() WMO is strengthening collaboration with its partners to address risks associated with weather, climate and water extremes. Only half of the 193 members of WMO have multi-hazard early warning systems and there are severe gaps in weather and hydrological observing networks in Africa, some parts of Latin America and in Pacific and Caribbean island states. Quite simply, we are better than ever before at saving lives,” according to Prof. Improved multi-hazard early warning systems have led to a significant reduction in mortality. But, behind the stark statistics, lies a message of hope. “Economic losses are mounting as exposure increases. The warming of the oceans has affected the frequency and area of existence of the most intense tropical storms,” he comments. We have more water vapor in the atmosphere, which is exacerbating extreme rainfall and deadly flooding. “That means more heatwaves, drought and forest fires such as those we have observed recently in Europe and North America. “The number of weather, climate and water extremes are increasing and will become more frequent and severe in many parts of the world as a result of climate change,” says WMO Secretary-General Prof. These three hurricanes alone accounted for 35% of the total economic losses of the top 10 disasters around the world from 1970 to 2019. Three of the costliest 10 disasters occurred in 2017: Hurricanes Harvey (US$ 96.9 billion), Maria (US$ 69.4 billion) and Irma (US$ 58.2 billion). It is the sole hazard for which the attributed portion is continually increasing. Storms were the most prevalent cause of damage, resulting in the largest economic losses around the globe. The reported losses from 2010–2019 (US$ 383 million per day on average over the decade) were seven times the amount reported from 1970–1979 (US$ 49 million). Economic losses have increased sevenfold from the 1970s to the 2010s. With regard to economic losses, the top 10 events include storms (US$ 521 billion) and floods (US$ 115 billion).ĭuring the 50-year period, US$ 202 million dollars in damage occurred on average every day. In the 1990s, that average fell by one third to 90 related deaths per day, then continued to fall in the 2010s to 40 related deaths per day. ![]() The 1970s and 1980s reported an average of 170 related deaths per day. Death tolls fell from over 50 000 deaths in the 1970s to less than 20 000 in the 2010s. Of the top 10 disasters, the hazards that led to the largest human losses during the period have been droughts (650 000 deaths), storms (577 232 deaths), floods (58 700 deaths) and extreme temperature (55 736 deaths).ĭeaths decreased almost threefold from 1970 to 2019. More than 91% of these deaths occurred in developing countries (using the United Nations Country Classification). It assesses the entire 50-year period as well as by individual decade.įrom 1970 to 2019, weather, climate and water hazards accounted for 50% of all disasters, 45% of all reported deaths and 74% of all reported economic losses. The report is the most comprehensive review of mortality and economic losses from weather, water and climate extremes to date. But, thanks to improved early warnings and disaster management, the number of deaths decreased almost three-fold.Īccording to the WMO Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water Extremes (1970 – 2019), there were more than 11 000 reported disasters attributed to these hazards globally, with just over 2 million deaths and US$ 3.64 trillion in losses. The number of disasters has increased by a factor of five over the 50-year period, driven by climate change, more extreme weather and improved reporting. A disaster related to a weather, climate or water hazard occurred every day on average over the past 50 years – killing 115 people and causing US$ 202 million in losses daily, according to a comprehensive new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). ![]()
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