CHICAGO, Aug. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield's catastrophe model development team, today launches the latest edition of its monthly Global Catastrophe Recap report, which evaluates the impact of the natural disaster events that occurred worldwide during July 2015. Aon Benfield is the global reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon plc (NYSE:AON).
The report reveals that Typhoon Chan-hom tracked across much of the Western Pacific Ocean during the month, causing extensive damage in China, Japan's Okinawa Island chain, South Korea, Taiwan and Guam, killing at least six people and injuring 30 others.
Total economic losses were estimated at more than USD1.6 billion, with China bearing the greatest impact; according to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, damage from Chan-hom had resulted in a CNY9.1 billion (USD1.5 billion) economic loss, mainly as a result of damage to agricultural interests and infrastructure.
Additional landfalling tropical cyclones in Asia during the month included Typhoon Linfa and Super Typhoon Nangka, which caused total economic losses of USD214 million and USD200 million respectively.
Adityam Krovvidi, Head of Impact Forecasting Asia-Pacific, said: "The recent tropical cyclone losses in Asia show that the peril remains an increasingly costly one for the continent on both an economic and insured loss basis. With the peak of the Western Pacific typhoon season approaching, we can expect further chances of landfalls in the basin. Impact Forecasting has developed an Asian typhoon model and a Japan typhoon model to help our clients evaluate their risks for when the next event strikes."
Elsewhere during the month, two separate stretches of severe thunderstorms impacted the United States, with the majority of damage occurring in the Midwest, Plains, Southeast and the Northeast as a result of tornadoes, large hail, and damaging straight-line winds. Initial insured loss estimates reached USD325 million.
Meanwhile, Cyclone Raquel brought torrential rainfall to portions of the Solomon Islands as more than 150 buildings were damaged or destroyed and almost 40,000 food gardens sustained damage.
Also occurring during July:
- Seasonal monsoon rains brought considerable flooding and landslides across a wide area of southern Asia, killing more than 250 people and injuring hundreds of others. Some of the most significant damage was registered in parts of China, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Total aggregated economic losses were estimated at more than USD2.0 billion, with the majority of losses sustained in China.
- Floods impacted Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. An estimated 322 communities were affected by the floods and landslides as 3,308 homes were inundated.
- Severe thunderstorms impacted Western Europe, killing at least three people. Widespread damage was reported in multiple countries primarily due to large hail and fallen trees. The Dutch Association of Insurers noted that losses were expected to minimally reach EUR13 million (USD14 million), with the figure expected to rise.
- Severe drought conditions persisted across at least 10 Chinese provinces, resulting in total economic losses estimated at CNY11.8 billion (USD1.8 billion).
- Wildfires caused minor structural damage in Canada and the United States.
To view the full Impact Forecasting July 2015 Global Catastrophe Recap report, please follow the link:
Along with the report, users can access current and historical natural catastrophe data and event analysis on Impact Forecasting's Catastrophe Insight website, which is updated bi-monthly as new data become available:
www.aonbenfield.com/catastropheinsight
Further information
For further information please contact the Aon Benfield PR team: Andrew Wragg (+44 207 522 8183 / 07595 217168) David Bogg or Alexandra Lewis
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SOURCE Aon plc
