2022 natural catastrophes News

Derecho Storm Ranks as Canada’s 6th Largest Insured Loss on Record

The storm that swept through southern Ontario and parts of Quebec on Saturday, May 21, caused over C$875 million (US$676.3 million) in insured damages, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, which quoted initial estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification …

Historic Levels of Rainfall Cause Floods in Central China, Killing at Least 10

At least 10 people have been killed and three are missing in flooding in the central Chinese province of Hunan, while a landslide buried parts of a village in the southern Guangxi region, state media reported. Storms have pummeled Hunan …

Greece Wildfire Threatens Homes Near Athens

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greek firefighters on Sunday were battling a wildfire for a second day near two Athens suburbs. Local media reported some damage to houses as well as vehicles, with 65 fire engines and 283 firefighters still operating …

Hurricane Agatha Brings Flooding, Mudslides to Mexico, Killing at Least 11

SAN ISIDRO DEL PALMAR, Mexico (AP) – Hurricane Agatha caused flooding and mudslides that killed at least 11 people and left 20 missing, the governor of the southern state of Oaxaca said Tuesday. Gov. Alejando Murat said rivers overflowed their …

North Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins With Ripe Conditions for Above-Average Activity

As the North Atlantic hurricane season begins officially today, forecasters continue to predict above-average storm activity. The pre-season forecast update for North Atlantic hurricane activity still predicts 18 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major (Category 3 and above) hurricanes, …

Season’s First Hurricane Pummels Mexico With Strong Winds, Heavy Rain

Hurricane Agatha made landfall in Mexico’s Oaxaca state Monday afternoon in what’s expected to be the strongest May storm to hit the eastern Pacific on record. Agatha was already raking the Pacific coastline with damaging gusts and heavy rain early …

Canada Crop Land ‘Deteriorating’ as Heavy Rain Hinders Planting

Farmers in parts of Canada’s Prairies are struggling to get crops in the ground as heavy rains continue to wallop the eastern region in the latest threat to global grain supplies. Virtually no seeding has been done in Manitoba as …

Natural Disasters, Ukraine War Weigh on Q1 Results of Europe’s Major Reinsurers

Three out of four of the major European reinsurers reported their profits were negatively affected as a result of elevated natural catastrophe claims and a first round of claims reserves from the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Fitch Ratings in a …

Extreme Weather Threatens Global Wheat Crops – With One Notable Exception

As Russia’s invasion chokes off Ukrainian wheat exports, pushing up bread and noodle prices, the global harvest faces an added test: extreme weather. Droughts, flooding and heatwaves threaten output from the U.S. to France and India, compounding shrinking production in …

Insurance Price Tag for Australia’s Record-Breaking Floods Estimated at A$3.35B: ICA

The storms and floods that hit South-East Queensland and coastal New South Wales in February and March are likely to be Australia’s costliest floods on record, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA). Using updated data, the ICA said …