UN: 30,000 Deaths from Disasters Worldwide in 2011

United Nations, Jan 19. -About 30,000 people were killed in 300 natural disasters worldwide in 2011, including some 21,000 in earthquakes, revealed the United Nations.According to data released by the UN agency for disaster reduction, earthquakes caused 20,943 deaths last year, 19,846 in Japan in last March.

The same source indicated that during 2011 the worst disasters, in terms of human impact, took place in Brazil (floods in January), Japan (earthquake and tsunami in March), United States (Hurricane Irene in August) and Thailand (floods in August).

The list includes the earthquake in Turkey in October, and Tropical Storm Washi that hit the Philippines in December.

By type of phenomenon, the highest number of fatalities, apart from the earthquake in Japan was caused by flooding (5,000) and storms (3,000), while high temperatures were responsible for 231 deaths.

Overall, the 302 natural disasters recorded in 2011 affected 206 million people (106 million by floods, 60 million by drought, particularly in China and the Horn of Africa, and 34 million by storms).

In terms of economic losses, the source estimated that these amounted to 366 billion dollars, higher than the 243 billion of 2005, until now the highest in history. (Prensa Latina)