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Deaths From Disasters Double This Year as Planet Heats Up

  • 26,000 died; Nepal deadliest event with 9,000 fatalities
  • Tianjin, U.S. winter storm costliest disasters for industry
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A Brief History of Global Warming

At least 26,000 people died in heat waves, earthquakes, floods and other disasters during a year that was probably the warmest on record, more than double the number of deaths in 2014, Swiss Re AG said in an annual report.

Natural catastrophes and man-made disasters cost the world economy $85 billion, falling from $113 billion in 2014, according to preliminary figures from the company’s research unit. Insured losses dropped to $32 billion from $35 billion in 2014.