On International Day for Disaster Reduction… What are the most notable losses of 2025?

The huge losses incurred by the planet in the first half of 2025 as a result of natural disasters exceeded $131 billion, according to an analysis issued by a German company specializing in reinsurance.

This number is the second highest semi-annual loss toll recorded since 1980, amid warnings that climate changes are contributing to increasing the frequency and severity of these phenomena.

Natural disasters around the world, such as forest fires, storms, and earthquakes, have caused huge losses, and according to experts at the company, weather-related natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe due to global warming.

The United States is one of the most affected countries, as it witnessed the state of California In January, devastating forest fires caused losses estimated at 53 billion dollars, recording the highest cost of a fire disaster in history.

The fires swept through the city of Los Angeles, the second largest American city, and led to the destruction of entire neighborhoods, the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents, and the death of 24 people, in addition to the destruction of about a thousand Facility.

Severe storms and powerful hurricanes were responsible for the bulk of the damage, with total losses amounting to $92 billion, equivalent to 70% of total global losses during the same period.

On March 28, a strong earthquake struck Myanmar, and was felt by residents of neighboring countries such as Thailand, India and China.

It resulted in the death of more than 4,500 people, and caused billions of dollars in losses.

The cost of damage in Thailand alone amounted to about 1.5 billion dollars, making this earthquake one of the most prominent natural disasters in the first half of the year. General.

South Korea was exposed to a series of forest fires that lasted for five days in its southeast, which led to the death of 24 people, the destruction of residential neighborhoods, the closure of schools, and the burning of a historic temple.

Also, about 27,000 people were evacuated, including prison inmates, despite the participation of more than 5,000 firefighters and 140 helicopters.

/>The fires consumed about 17,000 acres of forest, prompting the authorities to declare four provinces as disaster areas.

Although Europe did not suffer huge losses compared to other regions, some disasters were notable. In the Swiss canton of Valais, an avalanche in May buried the village of Platten and destroyed 130 homes, with losses amounting to $500 million.

Spain witnessed floods and thunderstorms that turned its tourist destinations into rivers of mud, sweeping away cars and shops.

At the end of August, Landslide The village of Tarsin in the Jebel Marra region, western Sudan, resulting in the death of about a thousand people, making it recorded as the largest natural disaster in the history of West Darfur.

In September, Kunar Province in eastern Afghanistan was exposed to a violent earthquake that led to the death of more than 2,200 people, the injury of about 3,700 others, and the damage to more than 84,000 people.

At least 6,700 homes also collapsed, in addition to the destruction of schools, health facilities, and entire villages built on the slopes of the hills.