{"id":64089,"date":"2026-07-30T07:48:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T07:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/64089\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T07:48:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T07:48:07","slug":"lower-losses-growing-risks-the-natural-disaster-review-for-the-first-half-of-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/64089\/","title":{"rendered":"Lower losses, growing risks: the natural disaster review for the first half of 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Asia-Pacific region, losses remained significantly lower than in previous years. Total losses amounted to around US$ 8.7bn (10-year average, adjusted for inflation: US$ 32bn), of which just over US$ 1bn (US$ 5bn) were insured.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Throughout May, persistent rainfall in central and southern China led to severe flooding. A rain band hundreds of kilometres wide brought heavy precipitation to numerous provinces, with some areas receiving up to 400 mm of rain per square metre. According to media reports, more than 100 rivers burst their banks. City centres were flooded and vehicles were swept away. An estimated 45 people lost their lives. Heavy rainfall is common in China during the East Asian summer monsoon, but this year it began earlier than usual. Initial estimates put the nationwide losses from the May floods at approximately US$ 2.8bn, only a fraction of which were insured.<\/p>\n

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Severe bushfires broke out in southeast Australia, producing total losses of almost US$ 1bn, two-thirds of which were insured. Australia is also heavily impacted by heatwaves, the direct losses from which are difficult to quantify. In its latest \u201cAustralia\u2019s National Climate Risk Assessment<\/a>\u201d, the Australian Climate Service, citing a study published as far back as 2018, estimated that heatwaves are already reducing labour productivity by up to around 0.5%, which translates to billions in losses for its economy.<\/p>\n

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In India, the monsoon rains that are vital for much of the country’s agriculture arrived later than usual and remained significantly weaker than normal. At the same time, strengthening El Ni\u00f1o conditions heightened the risk of drought-related impacts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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And the second half of the year holds significant risks for the region. In Australia and parts of Southeast Asia, El Ni\u00f1o often increases the risk of heatwaves, droughts and wildfires. At the same time, El Ni\u00f1o can enhance rainfall and flood risk in other parts of Asia, particularly where altered monsoon patterns or typhoon activity lead to excessive precipitation.<\/p>\n

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Moreover, El Ni\u00f1o tends to shift the areas where typhoons in the Northwest Pacific form toward the east. With more time over warm ocean waters, typhoons can intensify and persist longer, increasing the likelihood of severe storms. Their tracks also tend to shift northward, placing Japan, Korea and Greater China at greater risk.<\/p>\n

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In Africa, natural disasters caused losses amounting to around US$ 2bn. Only a fraction of these losses were insured. The largest damage was caused by storms and flooding in South Africa in May, with overall losses amounting to more than US$ 0.5bn. The loss numbers once again highlighted the continent\u2019s protection gap: while exposure is rising, insurance coverage remains limited, leaving governments, businesses and households to absorb most of the financial impact on their own, which also slows recovery efforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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