World economy lost $366b to natural disasters, 30,000 lives lost in 2011 – UN

Nearly 30,000 people were killed worldwide by natural disasters in 2011, according to the UN office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) with the earthquake in Japan and subsequent tsunami alone taking close to 20,000 lives.

The UN radio reports January 18, 2012 that economic losses to the disasters in 2011 topped $366 billion compared to $109 billion in 2010.

Over 200 million people were affected by the 302 disasters recorded during the year, the radio said.

Earthquakes and floods for the second year running top the list of major disasters in terms of human lives lost and damage to property.

By Ekow Quandzie