Natural disasters have quintupled since the 1970s
Environment — di Andrea Barolini
A study by the WMO explains that between 1970 and 2019 more than 11,000 natural disasters of meteorological or climatic origin were recorded worldwide.
Natural disasters have quintupled since the 1970s
A study by the WMO explains that between 1970 and 2019 more than 11,000 natural disasters of meteorological or climatic origin were recorded worldwide.
Since the 1970s, natural disasters of meteorological origin have quintupled globally as a result of climate change. This is explained by a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has revealed that in the period 1970–2019 the total number of recorded events exceeded 11,000 worldwide. This caused the deaths of more than two million people and economic losses of 3.6 billion dollars.
Natural disasters claim an average of 115 lives per day
This means that, on average, over the past 50 years the Earth has experienced one natural disaster per day, killing 115 people and causing 202 million dollars in damage. The WMO also classified events according to their mortality: according to the United Nations agency, droughts can be attributed 650,000 deaths, and storms more than 577,000. These are followed by floods (58,700 deaths) and extreme temperatures (55,700).
These are phenomena that, furthermore, affect the world in an extremely unequal way. Indeed, 91 per cent of deaths are concentrated in developing countries. This is due above all to the lack of early warning systems and sufficient means for prevention and emergency response.
#ClimateChange
Big increase in weather 🌀🌪🌊🔥 ⛈ disasters over past 50 years
weather-related disasters have increased five-fold over the past 50 years, says @WMO
But greatly improved early warning systems have limited deaths ⚰️ bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
Big increase in weather 🌀🌪🌊🔥 ⛈ disasters over past 50 years
weather-related disasters have increased five-fold over the past 50 years, says @WMO
But greatly improved early warning systems have limited deaths ⚰️ bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
As for the causes of the increase in extreme events, the WMO cites studies published in the annual supplement of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, according to which anthropogenic activities are considered a determining factor in the vast majority of extreme events recorded between 2015 and 2017. This confirms that climate change has been largely driven by human activity and, with it, catastrophic meteorological events.
Tropical cyclone Shaheen passes through Iran and Oman
The most recent example is linked to the passage of tropical cyclone Shaheen through the Persian Gulf region, with a particularly heavy toll. With torrential rain and winds reaching nearly 150 kilometres per hour, the meteorological phenomenon struck Iran and Oman in particular, causing no fewer than nine deaths and extensive damage.
Immagini drammatiche dall'Oman, investito dal ciclone #Shaheen. Piogge torrenziali in un'area desertica: in poche giorni previste le precipitazioni che di solito cadono in 4-5 anni. Non ci sono precedenti
In the sultanate in particular, the streets of the capital Muscat were flooded. A landslide was then recorded in the Ar-Roussayl region, claiming victims. Likewise, a flash flood in the same area killed a child. Local authorities also reported that a number of people are missing.
On the other side of the Gulf, in Iran, it was above all the south-eastern province of Sistan-Balouchistan that was affected. The epicentre of cyclone Shaheen was located approximately 220 kilometres from the coast. The province's governor, Hossein Modarres-Khiabani, stated that part of the area's infrastructure, in particular that relating to the electricity supply and road network, had been damaged.