• February's snowstorm in Japan inflicted $5.0 billion in economic losses, but only half of that figured was insured. Above, people remove snow in front of a house in Hayakawa of Yamanashi prefecture in Japan. Reuters / Kyodo
    February's snowstorm in Japan inflicted $5.0 billion in economic losses, but only half of that figured was insured. Above, people remove snow in front of a house in Hayakawa of Yamanashi prefecture in Japan. Reuters / Kyodo
  • Thunderstorms and tornadoes in May in the US generated losses of $1.7 billion, with $1.1bn of that covered. Above, residents salvage what they can from a home that was destroyed by a tornado in Mississippi. Joe Raedle / Getty Images / AFP
    Thunderstorms and tornadoes in May in the US generated losses of $1.7 billion, with $1.1bn of that covered. Above, residents salvage what they can from a home that was destroyed by a tornado in Mississippi. Joe Raedle / Getty Images / AFP
  • Storms in France, Germany and Belgium in June caused losses amounting $2.7 billion, with $2.5bn of that covered by insurers. Above, the remains of a flat roof lie on the ground in Neuss, Germany. Henning Kaiser / EPA
    Storms in France, Germany and Belgium in June caused losses amounting $2.7 billion, with $2.5bn of that covered by insurers. Above, the remains of a flat roof lie on the ground in Neuss, Germany. Henning Kaiser / EPA
  • The costliest disaster for the insurance sector during the first six months was the thunderstorms and hail which hit the United States in mid-May, causing $3.2 billion in damage, of which $2.6bn was insured. Above, a resident takes a close up photo of hail as a storm cloud passes over downtown Denver. Brennan Linsley / AP Photo
    The costliest disaster for the insurance sector during the first six months was the thunderstorms and hail which hit the United States in mid-May, causing $3.2 billion in damage, of which $2.6bn was insured. Above, a resident takes a close up photo of hail as a storm cloud passes over downtown Denver. Brennan Linsley / AP Photo
  • Estimates put the direct damage of the May 12, 2008, Sichuan earthquake in China at $29 billion. Above, survivors walk through the rubble at Yingxiu town in Wenchuan. Teh Eng Koon / AFP
    Estimates put the direct damage of the May 12, 2008, Sichuan earthquake in China at $29 billion. Above, survivors walk through the rubble at Yingxiu town in Wenchuan. Teh Eng Koon / AFP
  • The Northridge earthquake in California, which occurred on January 17, 1994, caused an estimated $25 billion in damage. Reed Saxon / AP Photo
    The Northridge earthquake in California, which occurred on January 17, 1994, caused an estimated $25 billion in damage. Reed Saxon / AP Photo
  • Hurricane Katrina, which made a landfall along the Gulf coast on August 25, 2005, was one of the worst disasters in the US history with total damage estimated at $81 billion. David Phillip / AFP
    Hurricane Katrina, which made a landfall along the Gulf coast on August 25, 2005, was one of the worst disasters in the US history with total damage estimated at $81 billion. David Phillip / AFP
  • The Great Hanshin earthquake, or Kobe earthquake, on January 17, 1995 caused about $100 billion in destruction according to a valuation by the World Bank. ImageForum
    The Great Hanshin earthquake, or Kobe earthquake, on January 17, 1995 caused about $100 billion in destruction according to a valuation by the World Bank. ImageForum
  • The earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011 was estimated to have caused $235 billion in damage according to the World Bank, while the Japanese government had a higher estimate of $309bn. Reuters / Kyodo
    The earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011 was estimated to have caused $235 billion in damage according to the World Bank, while the Japanese government had a higher estimate of $309bn. Reuters / Kyodo

Business

In pictures: Counting the cost of natural disasters

Liz Claus

August 27, 2014

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Natural disasters caused total economic losses of $41 billion in the first six months of this year. Here are five of the costliest natural disasters so far this year and the five most expensive natural disasters in history.

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