Natural disasters have caused more than $ 131 billion in losses so far in 2025

He Los Angeles forest fires And severe spring thunderstorms are just some of the natural disasters that have contributed to more than $ 131 billion in global losses for the first half of 2025, according to a new report by the Munich Re insurance company.

The general losses so far in 2025 were slightly lower than the same period of time in 2024, but even above the long -term averages.

At this time last year, the general losses were slightly higher at $ 155 billion, adjusted by inflation. The first half of 2024 included an earthquake in Japan on New Year’s Day, along with severe thunderstorms in the United States that generated more than 1,250 tornadoes.

Of the $ 131 billion in general losses by 2025, $ 80 billion were insured, which is the second highest amount for the first half of any year since the maintenance of records began in 1980. The first half of 2011 is the only year in which the insured losses have been higher, due to an earthquake and severe tsunami in Japan.

Los Angeles forest fires have been the most expensive natural disaster this year and it is estimated that they caused $ 53 billion in general losses, with $ 40 billion insured.

Climate change He played a role in forest fires By increasing the conditions of the Fire Meteorological Index, making them more intense and destructive, according to scientists.

“We need to face that losses have been increasing and making it clear that climate change plays an increasing role,” said Tobias Grimm, the main scientist of the Munich Re climate.

As more people move towards high -risk climatic areas and weather events become more extreme due to climate change, damage will probably continue to rise, Grimm said.

Another great global disaster in 2025 was the magnitude earthquake of March 7.7 in Myanmar that killed approximately 4,500 people and caused losses of $ 12 billion, very little of which it was secured.

Climate disasters such as forest fires and storms have caused 88% of general losses and 98% of insured losses, according to Munich Re. The earthquakes represented 12% of the general losses and 2% of the losses secured in 2025 so far.

In seven of the last eight years, the industry has seen more than $ 100 billion in insured losses, Grimm said.

“Usually, the second half of the year is more expensive,” he said, due to most of the hurricane season from August and concluding in November.

Since hurricanes and forest fires are the most expensive disasters in the record, the need to adapt and mitigate these climatic impacts is necessary to address the increasing costs of insurance, according to Grimm and other experts of the company.

“The best way to avoid losses is to implement effective preventive measures, such as a more solid construction for buildings and infrastructure to better resist natural disasters,” said Thomas Blark, a member of the Munich Re Board of Administration, in a statement. “These precautions can help maintain reasonable insurance cousins, even in high -risk areas. And most importantly: to reduce future exposure, the development of new buildings in high -risk areas should not be allowed.”

• Forest fire
• Flood
• Tornado
• Earthquake