Two million people dead from extreme weather since 1970, WMO says

The Bald Mountain Wildfire burns in the Grande Prairie Forest Area on Friday, May 12, 2023 this handout image provided by the Government of Alberta. (Government of Alberta Fire Service/Canadian Press via AP)

Extreme weather, climate and water-related events have caused 11,778 reported disasters in the last half century, killing two million people and causing trillions of dollars of economic damage, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has said.

More than 90% of the reported deaths happened in developing countries and economic damage from floods, storms and wildfires has soared by a factor of eight since 1970, totalling $4.3tn (€3.9tn).