Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: Impact ... - Aon

AnnuAl GlobAl Cli mAte And C AtAstroph e r e port
July
• monsoon rains in Asia kill hundreds
• powerful magnitude-7.6 earthquake strikes off new Zealand coastline
• summer storm systems pound sections of the united states
Two weeks of heavy rain triggered flooding and mudslides across China and vietnam early in the month, killing
at least 178 people. The Chinese government estimated total economic losses at US$3.9 billion after thousands
of homes were damaged or destroyed and tens of thousands of crops were damaged. In vietnam, the rains
damaged at least 993 homes and 3,531 acres (1,429 hectares) of crops.
Heavy rain triggered flooding across India’s Assam state between the 2nd and 9th, killing at least 287 people
across 47 districts. Nearly 500,000 people were left homeless after 6,906 homes were destroyed. Over 6,906
hectares (17,065 acres) of crops were destroyed.
Severe weather affected parts of the United States between the 4th and 9th. Tornadoes, large hail and
damaging winds were reported across much of the Plains, Midwest, Southeast and New England. On the 4th, a
lightning bolt killed at least one person and injured 28 more in Lakeland, Florida.
A severe thunderstorm moved through northern New Zealand on the 4th, damaging dozens of homes, a
hospital and an elementary school. Local officials said 42 homes were damaged by a tornado that touched
down in Kaitaia. Additional storms on the 11th and 12th and again on the 21st caused insured losses over
US$1.21 million.
Heavy rain between the 5th and 12th caused the Tesanjika and Trebacka rivers to overflow their banks in
northern sections of Bosnia and Herzegovina, flooding at least 220 homes in Tesanj Municipality. Additional
damage was reported to roads, bridges and the local food supply.
A magnitude-5.7 earthquake occurred in China’s yunnan Province on the 9th, killing at least one person and
injuring 325 others. The quake was centered 100 kilometers (60 miles) east-northeast of the town of Dali. The
quake destroyed at least 30,832 homes and damaged 625,000 others. At least eight aftershocks rattled the
region. Total economic losses were listed at US$366 million.
Heavy rains fell in China’s Sichuan Province between the 9th and 13th, killing at least 22 people. The deluge
destroyed 1,686 homes and damaged 4,900 hectares (12,108 acres) of crops. On the 14th, gusty winds and heavy
rains occurred in Fujian Province, leaving one person dead. Total economic losses were listed at US$374 million.
Severe weather affected the United States and southern Canada between the 9th and 16th, killing at least
two people and injuring five others. On the 9th, a tornado ripped through a popular tourist resort near Ear
Falls, Ontario, Canada, killing at least two people. Golf ball-sized hail and winds gusting to 70 mph (110 kph)
occurred in parts of Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. As the system pushed eastward, two EF1
tornadoes touched down in southern Ohio on the 11th, damaging or destroying over a dozen homes and
buildings. Another area of low pressure dropped southward out of Canada and entered the northern Plains
and the Upper Midwest on the 13th, spawning an EF2 tornado in northeastern Wyoming that destroyed two
homes and several barns while damaging home and car windows and roofs in the town of Hulett from large
hail. Between the 14th and 16th, golf ball-sized hail fell in the greater Des Moines area, breaking car and home
windows. Damage in Iowa was also reported in the towns of Knoxville, Bussey, Mason City and Clear Lake. At
least four tornadoes touched down across west-central Minnesota on the 14th, damaging numerous homes.
On the 16th, baseball-sized hail was reported in parts of Oklahoma.
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