Disasters in Asia & the Pacific region
In 2015, Asia-Pacific continued to be the world’s most disaster prone region. 160 disasters were reported, accounting for 47 per cent of the world’s 344 disasters. The region bore the brunt of large scale catastrophes with over 16,000 fatalities — a more than two-fold increase since 2014.
South Asia accounted for a staggering 64 per cent of total global fatalities — the majority was attributed to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in April which caused 8,790 deaths.2 Asia and the Pacific incurred more than US$ 45.1 billion in economic damage in 2015 and even higher indirect losses. These numbers, however, are gross underestimates as there is no systematic assessment of the cost of all disasters that struck the region, especially slow-onset disasters such as droughts, heat waves, forest fires and haze.
Source: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)
A new ADB report shows the regional exposure in graphical form.
South Asia accounted for a staggering 64 per cent of total global fatalities — the majority was attributed to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in April which caused 8,790 deaths.2 Asia and the Pacific incurred more than US$ 45.1 billion in economic damage in 2015 and even higher indirect losses. These numbers, however, are gross underestimates as there is no systematic assessment of the cost of all disasters that struck the region, especially slow-onset disasters such as droughts, heat waves, forest fires and haze.
- Floods were the most frequent disaster and had large-scale economic impacts. They comprised two-fifths of all disasters in 2015 and were responsible for 25 per cent of the total economic damage and 37 per cent of the total disaster affected population
- 160 out of the 344 globally recorded natural disasters hit Asia-Pacific, accounting for 16,046 lives lost - more than a two-fold increase from 2014
- Around half of the 90 storms recorded globally occurred in Asia-Pacific, affecting over 9 million people with US$ 11.8 billion in economic damage
- Reported economic damage (not including damage from slow-onset disasters) in the region totalled more than US$ 45.1 billion.
Source: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)
A new ADB report shows the regional exposure in graphical form.