Wildfires, storms fuel 2025 insured losses of $108 billion, Munich Re says

January 13, 2026 2:47 PM

Wildfires, storms fuel 2025 insured losses of $108 billion, Munich Re says

Global insured losses from natural disasters fell to $108 billion last year, Munich Re said in a report on Tuesday. That compared with an inflation-adjusted $147 billion in 2024, the German reinsurer said, as the U.S. mainland avoided hurricanes for the first time in 10 years. Munich Re's total estimate for last year sightly exceeds Swiss Re's of $107 billion, which it published in December. Damage from floods, wildfires and severe storms was the main contributor to insured losses, accounting...

Tropical storm deaths top 600 in Southeast Asia, over 4 million affected

November 30, 2025 4:23 PM

Tropical storm deaths top 600 in Southeast Asia, over 4 million affected

The death toll mounted to over 600 from floods and landslides caused by torrential rains across three countries in Southeast Asia, officials said on Sunday, as relief efforts for tens of thousands of displaced people continued over the weekend. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand faced large-scale devastation after a rare tropical storm formed in the Malacca Strait fuelling heavy rains and wind gusts for a week. There were 435 dead in Indonesia, 170 in Thailand, and three deaths reported in Malays...

PM Modi announces financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore for flood-hit Punjab

September 9, 2025 6:52 PM

PM Modi announces financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore for flood-hit Punjab

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday conducted an aerial survey of areas affected by floods, cloudbursts, and heavy rains in Punjab. He later held an official review meeting in Gurdaspur to assess damage and ongoing relief and rehabilitation measures. During the visit, PM Modi announced financial assistance of Rs. 1,600 crore for Punjab, in addition to the Rs. 12,000 crore already available with the state. Advance release of the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) an...

‘Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with affected,’ says PM Modi before leaving for flood-hit Himachal, Punjab

September 9, 2025 12:00 PM

‘Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with affected,’ says PM Modi before leaving for flood-hit Himachal, Punjab

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reaffirmed that his government stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” with those affected by the recent floods and landslides, as he departed for Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to assess the ground situation in the disaster-hit states. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Leaving for Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to review the situation in the wake of floods and landslides. The Government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with those affected in this tragi...

Rains, floods and rising heat: South Asia’s growing climate crisis

July 23, 2025 10:56 AM

Rains, floods and rising heat: South Asia’s growing climate crisis

People in India and neighboring countries eagerly await the monsoon rains, which signal the end of the scorching summer heat and bring much-needed water for crops that sustain crores of people. However, the increasing frequency, intensity, unpredictability and eccentricity of extreme rainfall events are making things increasingly difficult for the people. In 2024 alone, hundreds of people died in India due to heavy rainfall. Across South Asia, hundreds more have already died this year. Experts w...

South Korea’s Lee orders all-out effort to find missing after floods

July 22, 2025 11:31 AM

South Korea’s Lee orders all-out effort to find missing after floods

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung told public officials on Tuesday to "spare no effort" in the search for missing people and on damage recovery after days of torrential rains left a trail of destruction in various parts of the country. The wet weather has now subsided, though media reports said heavy rainfall was drenching parts of North Korea. Some 19 people have died and nine were still missing in South Korea as of Tuesday morning, while 2,549 people remained displaced, the Ministry of t...

Are flash floods directly linked to climate change?

July 9, 2025 4:18 PM

Are flash floods directly linked to climate change?

The catastrophic flash floods in Texas a couple of days earlier, triggered by extremely heavy rainfall, which caused over 100 deaths and widespread destruction, have once again raised a pressing question- are flash floods directly linked to climate change? Successive research by environmental agencies corroborates this, saying climate change is a significant factor in the increased risk, frequency and intensity of floods in several parts of the world. Research suggests human-caused climate chan...

Dozens missing after floods on Nepal-China border

July 8, 2025 12:54 PM

Dozens missing after floods on Nepal-China border

Over two dozen people are missing after heavy rainfall in the Tibet region of China triggered a deluge in the Bhote Koshi River, which flows through Nepal and China, washing away the 'Friendship Bridge' that connects them, officials said on Tuesday. At least 18 people are missing in Nepal while China's Xinhua news agency said 11 people were missing on the Chinese side of the border. In Nepal, the missing include the 6 Chinese workers and three policemen, the National Disaster Risk Reduction an...

Spain grapples with devastating floods as death toll surpasses 150

November 1, 2024 8:51 AM

Spain grapples with devastating floods as death toll surpasses 150

A devastating storm that hit Spain, has resulted in a mounting death toll of more than 150, according to a report by CNN. Spain's deadly storm has claimed 155 lives, with Valencia experiencing its heaviest rainfall in 28 years. Residents were trapped in basements and lower floors. The country's eastern and southern regions often see autumn rain, but this year's downpour was unprecedented. Most of the deaths occurred in Valencia, which is located along the Mediterranean coast and is home to more...

AI enhances flood warnings but cannot erase risk of disaster

October 15, 2024 4:05 PM

AI enhances flood warnings but cannot erase risk of disaster

When floods ripped through parts of Europe in September, the scale of the destruction took people by surprise. The intense rains should not have, because those had been predicted by sophisticated forecasting systems enhanced with artificial intelligence. But forewarned did not mean forearmed. Though the rains were accurately predicted, the effects in the deluged areas were not - a fact that highlights the difficulties of dealing with ever more common extreme weather. AI has supercharged weathe...