Natural disasters, some linked to climate change, caused $9.0 billion more damage in the first half of 2019 than last year, according to a toll published Tuesday by German reinsurer Munich Re.

Between January and June, material damage mounted to $42 billion from 370 natural disasters around the globe, the financial firm said in a statement.

In 2018, disasters racked up a bill of $33 billion over the same period.

But both half-year totals remain well below the 30-year average of $69 billion.

June brought a stark heatwave to Europe, and especially Germany, harming harvests, while hailstorms inflicted 900 million euros ($1 billion) of damage in Europe.

The impact of ice showers in Greece and Italy in early July has not yet been totted up.

"A number of scientific studies indicate that heatwaves are increasing due to climate change, and hailstorms as well," said Munich Re's chief climate and geoscientist Ernst Rauch.

The reinsurer noted that tornado season in the United States had been "considerably more active than usual" with 1,200 twisters counted by the end of June, around 20 percent more than the average between 2005 and 2015.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Australia's Queensland state was struck with floods that inflicted $2 billion of damage.

Of the $42 billion worldwide disaster damage total to the end of June, just $15 billion was insured, Munich Re said.

And the costs of floods in southeast China in June -- likely in the "billions" -- has not yet been reckoned into the figures.

Catastrophes also cost around 4,200 human lives, 100 fewer than last year and a fraction of the 27,000 killed on average in the first six months over the past 30 years.

The most deadly disaster was cyclone Idai in March, which killed more than one thousand people mostly in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

jpl/tgb/fz/wai

MUENCHENER RUECKVERSICHERUNG

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Dozens of migrants still stuck on vessel in Italy port
Rome (AFP) July 28, 2019
An Italian coastguard vessel stranded in the Mediterranean with more than 130 migrants aboard has been allowed to dock in the Sicilian port of Augusta but Rome on Sunday refused to let them disembark until a deal is struck with the EU. "The Gregoretti berthed in the port of Augusta overnight, as is the normal procedure for a military vessel. Now the EU has to act because the migration question concerns the whole continent," Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in a statement. Some 140 migran ... read more