Weather disasters costing at least $29 billion have already shook the world in 2022. More than 16,000 people perished as a result of heat waves in Europe, and flooding in Pakistan claimed about 1,700 lives, according to insurance company Aon’s quarterly disaster report released on October 18.
The disasters included 14 severe weather events (damages done by thunderstorms, hail, and/or tornadoes), six floods, five droughts, three tropical cyclones, and one European windstorm. Comparing the total damages so far in 2022 to past years is difficult, according to experts, because the 2022 losses are expected to be dominated by Hurricane Ian, and it will some months before those can be tallied.
A man rides a boat past toll plaza amid flood water on main Indus highway, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sehwan, Pakistan, September 15. (Image: REUTERS /Akhtar Soomro)
A man carrying a gun walks with a family on a flooded street after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction, in North Port, Florida, September 30. (Image: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)
People sleep on the Yamuna river bed under a bridge on a hot summer day in New Delhi, India, May 2. (Image: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)
Iranian women are pictured during a sandstorm at the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf, Iraq, May 23. (Image; REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani)
Four-year-old Jackson Zoller excitedly hands family friend Elena Ozuna, 17, a doll while hunting for what he said was “treasure” in the remains of his neighbor’s home which was levelled by a tornado in Arabi, St. Bernard Parish, in the outskirts of New Orleans, Louisiana, March 24. The Zoller family’s residence, situated directly across the street, went unharmed. (Image: REUTERS/Adrees Latif)
Sand begins to surround houses close to the town of Ambovombe, Androy region, Madagascar, February 15. Four years of drought, along with deforestation caused by people burning or cutting down trees to make charcoal or to open up land for farming, have transformed the area into a dust bowl. (Image: REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis)
A member of the Queen’s Guard receives water to drink during a heat wave, outside Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, July 18. (Image: REUTERS/John Sibley)
A woman sits on the debris of her destroyed house, in the aftermath of Cyclone Batsirai, in the town of Mananjary, Madagascar, February 7. (Image: REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis)
A fire engine drives during a wildfire in El Pont de Vilomara, north of Barcelona, Spain, July 18. (Image: REUTERS/Albert Gea)
An aerial view shows a branch of the Loire River as historical drought hits France, in Loireauxence, France, August 16. (Image: REUTERS/Stephane Mahe)
The Pipeline Fire leaves the mountains northeast of the San Francisco Peaks glowing with thousands of spot fires north of Flagstaff, Arizona, June 13. (Image; Rob Schumacher/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK)
A villager attempts to put out a brush fire with a mop during a drought in Xinyao village, Nanchang city, Jiangxi province, China, August 25. (Image; REUTERS/Thomas Peter)
Flood victims gather to receive food handout in a camp, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sehwan, Pakistan, September 14. (Image: REUTERS/Akhtar Soomr)
An aircraft drops retardant on the Fairview Fire burning near Hemet, California, September 6. (Image: REUTERS/David Swanson)
People wade through the water as they look for shelter during a flood, amidst heavy rains that caused widespread flooding in the northeastern part of the country, in Sylhet, Bangladesh, June 18. (Image: REUTERS/Abdul Goni)
An aerial view of damaged boats and buildings after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction in Fort Myers, Florida, September 29. (Image: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)
Internally displaced Somali woman Habiba Bile stands near the carcass of her dead livestock following severe droughts near Dollow, Gedo Region, Somalia, May 26. (Image: REUTERS/Feisal Omar)
A woman stands at her front door after heavy rains caused flood damage in KwaNdengezi, Durban, South Africa, April 12. (Image: REUTERS/Rogan Ward)
Tina Ekiro from the Turkana pastoralist community affected by the worsening drought due to failed rain seasons, waters sheep from an open well dug on a dry riverbed in Loyoro village of Kalokol in Turkana, Kenya, September 28. (Image: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya)
A cow moves past a burning car that, according to fire officials, caught fire by an electrical short circuit after it was stuck in a water-logged road following heavy rains in Ahmedabad, India, July 11. (Image: REUTERS/Amit Dave)
A shepherd watches a fire burning a wheat field between Tabara and Losacio, during the second heatwave of the year, in the province of Zamora, Spain, July 18. (Image: REUTERS/Isabel Infantes)
People search debris on the beach, in the aftermath of Cyclone Batsirai, in the town of Mananjary, Madagascar, February 8. (Image: REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis)
Water is dropped near a fireman standing on fire retardant painted hillside as the Fairview Fire burns near Hemet, California, September 6. (Image: REUTERS/David Swanson)
A flood victim takes refuge along a road in a makeshift tent, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Mehar, Pakistan, August 29. (Image: REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro)
The carcass of an elephant that died during the drought is seen in the Shaba National Reserve, Isiolo county, Kenya, September 22. (Image: REUTERS/Baz Ratner)
A woman walks through a destroyed home in the aftermath of a tornado in Round Rock, Texas, March 22. (Image: REUTERS/Adrees Latif)
A child swims in the flood water caused by heavy rains as a passenger bus passes by, in Manila, Philippines, August 6. (Image: REUTERS/Lisa Marie David)
The Oak Fire burns in Darrah in Mariposa County, California, July 22. REUTERS/David Swanson
An aerial view of Lake Powell is seen, where water levels have declined dramatically to lows not seen since it was filled in the 1960s as growing demand for water and climate change shrink the Colorado River and create challenges for business owners and recreation in Page, Arizona, April 20. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
A destroyed road is seen after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction in Brownville, Florida, October 4. REUTERS/Marco Bello
A boat sits on the dried basin of the La Boca dam as more than half of Mexico faces moderate to severe drought conditions, in Santiago, Mexico, March 22. (Image: REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)
