US hit by record number of billion-dollar disasters so far this year / Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA - AFP/File
-
Firefighters battle to contain deadly Crete blaze in Greece
-
Stocks diverge on earnings, as oil steadies
-
Chelsea sign France defender Lacroix from Crystal Palace
-
AI data centre supplier Zhongji InnoLight slips on Hong Kong debut
-
Root named England Test captain, Fleming appointed coach
-
Eurozone economy grows despite Middle East war
-
May, June heatwaves caused 2,877 extra deaths in England: govt
-
Singapore group will develop 'most promising' Ebola vaccine
-
France firefighters hopeful, as Spain reports 'almost no flames'
-
BMW profit down a third as carmaker plans job cuts
-
Shell profit surges as Mideast war fuels oil prices
-
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe leaves club: reports
-
Russian strikes kill 8 across Ukraine, including 6 from one family
-
Japan quake toll hits 34 as survivors struggle in heat
-
Rain dampens France fire, as Spain reports 'almost no flames'
-
Seoul extends losses as most Asian markets drop, oil rises again
-
India's history-making stand-in cricket captain Rahane retires
-
New Zealand top diplomat draws Chinese embassy complaint in racism row
-
Car maker Stellantis says back in profit in second quarter
-
Eggs back in India school meals after outcry
-
Japanese survivors deal with second quake disaster in 10 years
-
Gambling.com Group Is Now Grandstand
-
Stranded boats, out-of-work fishermen as Danube hits record lows
-
South Korea coach Hong grilled by MPs over World Cup flop
-
South Korea Hong coach grilled by MPs over World Cup flop
-
Nolan's 'Odyssey' boosts sales of mythology tales in UK
-
Japan quake toll hits 30 as survivors struggle in heat
-
'It's exhausting': southwest Japan deals with second big quake in 10 years
-
Japan quake toll hits 28 as survivors struggle in heat
-
Russian strikes kill at least 8, wound more across Ukraine
-
AI data centre supplier Zhongji InnoLight tumbles on Hong Kong debut
-
Samsung quarterly operating profit up 1,800% on AI boom
-
Drones and blackouts inflict a tense summer on Russia-annexed Crimea
-
Son at the double as MLS All-Stars beat Liga MX 4-3
-
Australia ask for more information on FIFA sell-off plan
-
Meet the astronomer digging into the Milky Way's 'fossils'
-
South Korean stocks bounce after rout, oil holds gains on Mideast woes
-
French teen fined in Singapore 'straw licking' case
-
Stokes should return for 'one more Ashes': Australia coach McDonald
-
AI data centre supplier Zhongji InnoLight falls on Hong Kong debut
-
Ngumoha scores as Liverpool beat Wrexham 1-0 in New York friendly
-
South Korea's women web sleuths fight AI deepfake porn
-
Up to 23 feared dead in Japan quake
-
Rushdie assailant convicted of terrorism charges
-
Samsung operating profit up 1,800% in second quarter on AI boom
-
Australian regulator says Telegram breached online safety law
-
De Zerbi wants Bergvall at Spurs, but can't promise starting role
-
New Zealand foreign minister in racism row with Chinese ambassador
-
De Minaur tops Tsitsipas to set up Hewitt clash in Washington
-
CoTec Holdings Corp. Investment MagIron Strengthens Leadership Team and Liquidity Position
US hit by record number of billion-dollar disasters so far this year
Between January and August, the United States was struck by a record-breaking 23 weather and climate disasters where losses exceeded $1 billion in each case, official data showed Monday.
The tally for 2023 has already exceeded the previous record of 22 such events in 2020, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said, and four months still remain in the year.
These disasters included fires in Hawaii in August, flooding in California in the spring, and Hurricane Idalia that made landfall in Florida on August 30.
Together, they "caused 253 direct and indirect fatalities and produced more than $57.6 billion in damages," NOAA said. Two more potential billion-dollar events -- Tropical Storm Hilary on the West Coast, and the drought affecting the South and Midwest -- remain under investigation.
Rachel Cleetus, policy director with the climate and energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said, "These record-breaking numbers, during a year that is on track to be one of the hottest ever, are sobering and the latest confirmation of a worsening trend in costly disasters, many of which bear the undeniable fingerprints of climate change."
Since 1980, the year NOAA began tracking these events, the United States has sustained 371 billion-dollar events, adjusted for inflation.
Between 2018-2022, the annual average has been 18.0 events, compared to 8.1 events between 1980-2022.
2023 is likely to be the hottest year in human history, and global temperatures during the Northern Hemisphere summer were the warmest on record, the European Union climate monitor said last week.
The United States meanwhile saw its ninth-warmest August on record, according to NOAA.
Though 2023 has had the highest number of billion-dollar disasters, it's still behind other years in terms of total economic damages.
Hurricane Ian, which struck Florida in September 2022, caused 152 deaths and losses worth $112.9 billion.
The costliest year was 2017, with $383.7 billion damages adjusted for inflation. The bulk of that damage came from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, which struck in quick succession.
O.M.Souza--AMWN
