During the first semester of 2015, EM-DAT preliminary data shows that 138 disasters occurred in 68 countries. The impact of which resulted in 15,143 deaths, affected more than 15 million people and caused more than US$13.2 billion (A).
The major disaster was the earthquake of the 25th April, followed by a second one the 12th May in Nepal (see Cred Crunch n°39). They killed together more than 8,800 people (B) and affected over 5,5 million (C).
This disaster is also the most costly with economic damages estimated at almost 4 billion (D), an enormous amount for this country.
Data from the first half of 2015 reinforced Asian continent’s position as most prone to disaster in terms of occurrence, number of deaths and affected and economic damages (E).
The three deadliest disasters occurred in Asia. In addition of Nepal earthquake, a heat wave hit successively India and Pakistan, with a respective death toll of 2,500 and 1,229.
In terms of economic damages, 4 of the 10 costliest disasters were floods in China.
Four of the 10 costliest disasters occurred in United States. They were affected by a flood, 2 tornadoes and a winter storm (D).
In terms of population affected, 5 droughts starting in 2014 are still ongoing in 2015, affecting the African continent as well as Haiti and Honduras (C).
The figures of the 1st semester 2015 in terms of occurrence, death toll, population affected and economic damages are much lower than the average of the 1st semesters from 2005 to 2014 when major disasters occurred (such as the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake in China-Sichuan in 2008, or the tsunami in Japan-Fukushima in 2011).
Concerning the sharing of impacts by disaster type, 41% of events were floods, responsible for only 9% of deaths but 39% of economic damages - which make it the most expensive type of disaster. On the other hand, only 7% of events were earthquakes and responsible for 59% of total death toll and 38% of affected population (mainly due to the Nepal earthquake). (F)
The figures of human impact in the 1st semester 2015 are the highest since 2011. This suggests that ongoing disaster risk reduction efforts still need to be improved and stay in the center of policy debates and international programs.
Debarati Guha-Sapir
Director, CRED