Natural Disaster Data Book 2018
An Analytical Overview

Asian Disaster Reduction Center

Overview
The Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)
Natural Disasters Data Book 2018 provides
statistical perspectives in figures and tables for2018 as well as for the period 1989-2018 basedon data obtained by EM-DAT.
According to EM-DAT, 331 natural disasters
occurred in 2018 worldwide, killing 14,385 people
and affecting approx. 80 million people. The
estimated amount of economic damage cameover US$130 billion.
In 2018, the earthquake and tsunami that hit
Indonesia in September brought about serious
damages to the country. The disaster killed 4,340
people and affected over 200,000 people. In
addition,
Indonesia
experiences
another
catastrophic earthquake event in August causing
564 deaths. These death tolls are the first andthird largest in the world. The second largest
death toll is recorded in the Democratic Republicof Congo which is hit by epidemic causing 2,210
deaths.
Flood in India and drought in Afghanistan havelargest affected people in the world with over 23
million and 10.6 million people, respectively.
By region, Asia is ranked the highest in disasteroccurrences, and the numbers of people killed
and affected with 43.5 percent in occurrences;
number of people killed, 69.1 percent; andnumber of people affected, 84.2 percent.
Americas has the largest share in amount of
economic damage with 52.6 percent, andfollowing Asia with 43.3 percent.
By disaster types, flood is dominant in occurrence
and number of people affected at 38.7 percent
and 42.2 percent, respectively, while earthquake
tops in number of people killed by 36.6 percent
and so does storm in amount of economic
damage with 53.3 percent.
Data Book 2018 also contains tables of the 25
worst disasters by number of people killed andaffected, economic damage, and their respective
ratios to population and gross domestic product(GDP). It also includes tables of 2018 disasters in
Asian countries sorted by country and disaster
type.
[Notes]
Source:All disaster data are based on EM-DAT: The
Emergency Events Database - Université

catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. GuhaSapir - www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium. Data
set was obtained on 11 October 2019, unlessotherwise stated.
EM-DAT Criteria:
For a disaster to be entered into the database, atleast one of the following criteria must be fulfilled:Ten (10) or more people reported killedHundred (100) or more people reported
affectedDeclaration of a state of emergency
Call for international assistance.
In this Data Book 2018 “people killed” are definedas persons confirmed as dead and persons
missing and presumed dead. “People affected”
are the sum of injured, homeless, and affected in
EM-DAT. EM-DAT defines people affected as
people requiring immediate assistance during theperiod of emergency; requiring basic survival
needs such as food, water, shelter, sanitation and
immediate medical assistance.
Disaster Terms:“Animal accident” is that human encounters withdangerous or exotic animals in both urban andrural developments.
“Drought” includes an extended period of
unusually low precipitation that produces ashortage of water for people, animals and plants.
“Earthquake” includes ground shaking andtsunami.
“Epidemic” includes bacterial and viral infectious
diseases.
“Extreme Temperature” includes heat wave, cold
wave, and extreme winter conditions.
“Flood” includes general flood, and flash flood.
“Landslide” includes avalanche, debris, androckfall.
“Storm” includes local storm, tropical cyclone, andwinter storm.
“Volcanic activity” means volcanic eruption.
“Wildfire” includes bush/brush fire, forest fire, andscrub/grassland fire.
Classification of EM-DAT:
https://www.emdat.be/classification

Disclaimer:
Country and region classification used in thisbook is based on EM-DAT criteria. However, thenatural disaster subgroup “Extraterrestrial” in EMDAT was excluded from the data obtained for thisData Book.

Table of Contents
1. IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS BY REGION, 2018 ...................................................... 2
2. IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS BY DISASTER TYPE, 2018......................................... 3
3. IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN ASIA BY DISASTER TYPE, 2018 ........................... 4
4. TRENDS OF WORLD NATURAL DISASTERS, 1989-2018 ..................................................... 5
4-1 NUMBER OF DISASTERS IN THE WORLD (1989-2018) .......................................................... 5
4-2 NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED IN THE WORLD (1989-2018) ................................................... 6
4-3 NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED IN THE WORLD (1989-2018) ............................................ 7
4-4 ECONOMIC DAMAGE IN THE WORLD (1989-2018) ................................................................. 8

5. IMPACTS OF WORLD NATURAL DISASTERS BY REGION, 1989-2018 ............................... 9
6. THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA 2018 ......................................................................... 10
6-1 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED, 2018 ................... 10
6-2 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED PER MILLIONPOPULATION, 2018 ................................................................................................................ 11
6-3 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED, 2018 ............ 12
6-4 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED PER
THOUSAND POPULATION, 2018 ........................................................................................... 13
6-5 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY ECONOMIC DAMAGE, 2018 ................................ 14
6-6 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY RATIO OF ECONOMIC DAMAGE TO GDP, 2018 15

7. DISASTERS IN ASIA BY COUNTRY, 2018 ........................................................................... 16
8. DISASTERS IN ASIA BY DISASTER TYPE, 2018 ................................................................. 18

1. IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS BY REGION, 2018
This section shows the impacts of natural disasters in four indices, occurrence, number of deaths, number of people
affected and economic damage that were reported across the world in 2018. As shown in Figure 1, Asia ranks thefirst among all regions in the categories of disaster occurrence, the number of people killed and affected, accounting
for 43.5 percent, 69.1 percent and 84.2 percent respectively. On the other hand, Americas is ranked the highest in
the amount of economic damage, which is largely attributed to storms and wildfire occurred in USA in 2018.

90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Occurrence
AfricaKilledAffected

Americas

Asia

EuropeDamageOceania

Figure 1: Impacts of Natural Disasters by Region, 2018

Table 1: Impacts of Natural Disasters by Region, 2018
ImpactRegionAfricaOccurrence

KilledAffected

Damage (US$ million)(share in %)(share in %)(share in %)(share in %)57(17.2%)

3,083(21.4%)

Americas65(19.6%)

956(6.6%)

Asia

144(43.5%)

9,937(69.1%)

5,538,317(6.9%)

796(0.6%)

6,725,208(8.4%)

68,729(52.6%)

67,377,893(84.2%)

56,570(43.3%)

Europe49(14.8%)

219(1.5%)

81,454(0.1%)

3,203(2.5%)

Oceania16(4.8%)

190(1.3%)

275,922(0.3%)

1,357(1.0%)

Total

331(100.0%)14,385(100.0%)79,998,794(100.0%)130,655(100.0%)Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

22. IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS BY DISASTER TYPE, 2018
Regarding the breakdown of impacts of disasters by disaster type, 2018 sees impacts by various natural disasters.
Flood tops at 38.7 percent in occurrence and 42.2 percent in the number of people affected. Earthquake shares
36.6 percent in the number of people killed although it shares 6.0% in occurrence. Storm brings the heaviest
economic damage by 53.3 percent, followed by wildfire, 17.5 percent.

60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Occurrence

KilledAffected

DamageDrought

Earthquake

Epidemic

Extreme temperature

Flood

Landslide

Mass movement (dry)StormVolcanic activity

Wildfire
Figure 2: Impacts of Natural Disasters by Disaster Type, 2018
Table 2: Impacts of Natural Disasters by Disaster Type, 2018
ImpactDisaster Type

Occurrence

KilledAffected(share in %)(share in %)Damage (US$ million)(share in %)(share in %)Drought

15(4.5%)

0(0.0%)

22,968,345(28.3%)

9,554(7.3%)

Earthquake

20(6.0%)

5,264(36.6%)

1,515,269(1.9%)

7,114(5.4%)

Epidemic

16(4.8%)

2,601(18.1%)

107,162(0.1%)

0(0.0%)

Extreme temperature26(7.9%)

536(3.7%)

396,798(0.5%)

0(0.0%)

Flood

128(38.7%)

2,881(20.0%)

34,236,433(42.2%)

19,692(15.1%)

Landslide13(3.9%)

275(1.9%)

54,908(0.1%)

928(0.7%)

1(0.3%)

17(0.1%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

94(28.4%)

1,712(11.9%)

19,693,372(24.3%)

69,697(53.3%)

Volcanic activity

8(2.4%)

878(6.1%)

1,909,098(2.4%)

869(0.7%)

Wildfire10(3.0%)

221(1.5%)

261,287(0.3%)

22,802(17.5%)

Total

331

(100.0%)14,385(100.0%)81,142,672(100.0%)130,655(100.0%)Mass movement
(dry)
Storm

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

33. IMPACTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN ASIA BY DISASTER TYPE, 2018
Regarding the overview of impacts of disasters by disaster type in Asia, flood tops in occurrence and the number ofpeople affected. Storm is ranked the first in the amount of economic damage with 54.8 percent and the second in
occurrence. Earthquake tops in the number of people killed with 51.0% although its occurrence shares only 9.0
percent.

60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Occurrence

KilledAffected

DamageDrought

Earthquake

Epidemic

Extreme temperature

Flood

Landslide

Mass movement

Storm

Volcanic activity

Wildfire
Figure 3: Impacts of Natural Disasters by Disaster Type in Asia, 2018
Table 3: Impacts of Natural Disasters by Disaster Type in Asia, 2018
ImpactDisaster Type

Occurrence

KilledAffected

Damage (US$ million)(share in %)(share in %)Drought2(1.4%)

0(0.0%)

18,800,000(27.7%)

1,100(1.9%)

Earthquake

13(9.0%)

5,064(51.0%)

916,811(1.4%)

7,053(12.5%)

Epidemic2(1.4%)

519(5.2%)

79,376(0.1%)

0(0.0%)

8(5.6%)

427(4.3%)

326,798(0.5%)

0(0.0%)

Flood

57(39.6%)

2,007(20.2%)

30,119,913(44.4%)

17,184(30.4%)

Landslide6(4.2%)

109(1.1%)

52,909(0.1%)

0(0.0%)

Extremetemperature(share in %)(share in %)Mass movement

1(0.7%)

17(0.2%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

Storm

51(35.4%)

1,324(13.3%)

17,350,546(25.6%)

30,979(54.8%)

Volcanic activity

3(2.1%)

453(4.6%)

183,834(0.3%)

254(0.4%)

Wildfire1(0.7%)

17(0.2%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

Total

144(100.0%)9,937(100.0%)67,830,187(100.0%)56,570(100.0%)Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

44. TRENDS OF WORLD NATURAL DISASTERS, 1989-2018
4-1 NUMBER OF DISASTERS IN THE WORLD (1989-2018)
In terms of number of disasters, the year 2018 sees a slight decline from the previous year’s 367 to 331. In the longrun, the upward trend continues from the late 1980s till 2000 and the downward trend follows. In the collective 5year period representation of data in Figure 4-2, a downward trend is observed in the last 15 years starting from2004-2008 period although the numbers are still high compared to 1989-1993 and 1994-1998 periods.

Figure 4-1: Disaster Occurrence, 1989-2018

Figure 4-2: Disaster Occurrence (Average of 5-year period), 1989-2018
Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

54-2 NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED IN THE WORLD (1989-2018)
The death toll in 2018 shows an increase from the previous year’s 11,843 to 14,385. As seen in Figure 4-4 about
the trend of the 5-year period average, the number of people killed for the period 2014-2018 shows drastic decrease
from 82,785 to 16,425.

350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000

1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

0

Figure 4-3: Number of People Killed, 1989-2018

Figure 4-4: Number of People Killed (Average of 5-year period), 1989-2018

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

64-3 NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED IN THE WORLD (1989-2018)
In terms of number of the affected people, 2018 sees a slight decrease from the previous year’s 95,957,690 people
to 81,142,672. The 5-year period average representation shows that the number of affected people continues toslightly increase in the last 15 years.

Figure 4-5: Total Number of People Affected, 1989-2018

Figure 4-6: Number of People Affected (Average of 5 year period), 1989-2018
Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

74-4 ECONOMIC DAMAGE IN THE WORLD (1989-2018)
Economic damage caused by natural disasters declines drastically from approx. US$326 billion in 2017 to approx.
US$ 131 billion in 2018. However, in the 5-year period average analysis, an upward trend is shown in the last 15
years.

Figure 4-7: Amount of Damage, 1989-2018

Figure 4-8: Economic Damage (Average of 5-year period), 1989-2018
Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

85. IMPACTS OF WORLD NATURAL DISASTERS BY REGION, 1989-2018
For the period 1989-2018, Asia dominates and ranks the first in all natural disaster’s impact categories acrossregions of the world. Although Asia shares the larger amount of land and the higher population compared to othercontinents, some of the shares of Asia dominate still high.

Figure 5: Impacts of World Natural Disasters by Region, 1989-2018
Table 5: Impacts of Natural Disasters by Region, 1989-2018
ImpactRegionOccurrence

KilledAffected

Damage (US$ million)(share in %)(share in %)(share in %)(share in %)Africa2,182(19.9%)

197,928(10.6%)

422,124,414(6.9%)

25,090(0.8%)

Americas2,604(23.8%)

348,397(18.7%)

307,696,854(5.0%)

1,337,205(42.1%)

Asia

4,287

(39.1%)

1,153,928(62.0%)

5,339,446,844(87.1%)

1,418,678(44.6%)

Europe1,440(13.1%)

154,246(8.3%)

34,250,442(0.6%)

320,334(10.1%)

Oceania438(4.0%)

5,710(0.3%)

24,112,679(0.4%)

77,437(2.4%)

Total

10,951(100.0%)1,860,209(100.0%)6,127,631,233(100.0%)3,178,745(100.0%)Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

96. THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA 2018
6-1 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED, 2018
For the number of people killed in Asia in 2018, Indonesia is ranked in the first and second with the earthquake andtsunami occurred in September and the earthquake occurred in August, claiming 4,340 and 564 lives respectively.
There are 14 disaster events in Asia found in the list which claimed more than 100 lives. Storm and flood occupies
17 ranks in total in the worst 25 list.
Table 6-1: The 25 Worst Disasters in Asia by Number of People Killed, 2018
Economic
Disaster TypeCountry

Date

KilledAffected

Damage(US$ Million)

1 Earthquake

Indonesia

28/09/2018

4,340

209,025

2 Earthquake

Indonesia

05/08/2018

564

516,927790

3 FloodIndia

07/08/2018

504

23,220,000

2,852

4 Volcanic activity

Indonesia

22/12/2018

453

47,778250

5 Epidemic

Philippines

01/01/2018

317

57,5640

6 FloodJapan

29/06/2018

246

1,500,102

9,500

7 Epidemic

Philippines/01/2018

202

21,8120

8 Storm

Philippines

28/12/2018

182

926,690170

9 Extreme temperature

Pakistan

18/05/2018

180

0

0

10 Flood

DPR Korea

24/08/2018

148581,26825

11 StormIndia

01/05/2018

143

200

24

12 Flood

Lao PDR

23/07/2018

136

13,100

0

13 Extreme temperatureJapan

01/07/2018

11949,0000

14 Flood

China

05/05/2018

112

450,000

1,750

15 StormIndia

13/05/2018

95

0

0

16 Storm

DPR Korea

23/08/2018

86

0

5

17 StormIndia

11/10/2018

85

300,200920

18 Storm

Philippines

16/09/2018

84

3,800,138

32

19 Earthquake

Taiwan (China)

06/02/2018

84

285

100

20 Flood

China

07/05/2018

77

225,000373

21 Flood

Afghanistan

09/05/2018

72

4,000

0

22 StormIndia

08/06/2018

61

0

50

23 Flood

Pakistan

07/05/2018

60

0

0

24 StormIndia

28/05/2018

54

0

25

25 Storm

China

15/08/2018

53

39,6005,400

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

10

1,450

6-2 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED PER MILLIONPOPULATION, 2018
Using the ratio of the number of people killed to total country population, the flood in Lao PDR tops with 19.56
persons killed per one million. By disaster type, floods occupy the largest share in the 25 Worst Disasters in Asia by
number of people killed per population in 2018 with ten disaster events listed in the list.

Table 6-2: The 25 Worst Disasters in Asia by Number of People Killed per Million Population, 2018

Disaster TypeCountry

Date

Killedper million

KilledPopulation

1 Flood

Lao PDR

23/07/2018

19.56

136

6,953,035

2 Earthquake

Indonesia

28/09/2018

16.40

4,340

264,645,886

3 Flood

DPR Korea

24/08/2018

5.82

148

25,429,985

4 Earthquake

Taiwan (China)

06/02/2018

3.56

84

23,571,000

5 Storm

DPR Korea

23/08/2018

3.38

86

25,429,985

6 Epidemic

Philippines

01/01/2018

3.01

317

105,173,264

7 Storm

Lebanon19/01/2018

2.20

15

6,811,873

8 FloodJordan25/10/2018

2.15

21

9,779,173
264,645,886

9 Earthquake

Indonesia

05/08/2018

2.13

564

10 Flood

Afghanistan

09/05/2018

1.98

72

36,296,400

11 FloodJapan

29/06/2018

1.94

246

126,785,797

12 Epidemic

Philippines/01/2018

1.92

202

105,173,264

13 Extreme temperature

Nepal

01/01/2018

1.81

50

27,627,124

14 Storm

Philippines

28/12/2018

1.73

182

105,173,264

15 Volcanic activity

Indonesia

22/12/2018

1.71

453

264,645,886

16 Flood

Israel24/04/2018

1.38

12

8,713,300

17 Flood

Jordan

09/11/2018

1.33

13

9,779,173

18 Storm

Oman

23/05/2018

1.29

6

4,665,935

19 Extreme temperatureJapan

01/07/2018

0.94

119

126,785,797

20 Flood

Sri Lanka

19/05/2018

0.93

20

21,444,000

21 Storm

Yemen

14/10/2018

0.90

25

27,834,821

22 Extreme temperature

Pakistan

18/05/2018

0.87

180

207,896,686

23 Storm

Philippines

16/09/2018

0.80

84

105,173,264

24 Flood

Tajikistan

16/05/2018

0.68

6

8,880,268

25 Flood

Sri Lanka

06/10/2018

0.56

12

21,444,000

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium
Note: Population data is taken from World Bank 2017, with the exception of Taiwan (China) for which the data was extracted from the
IMF World Economy Outlook Database 2017.

11

6-3 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED, 2018
In terms of the number of people affected, the flood in India ranks the first with 23.2 million people affected. In 2018,
the number of disaster events that affected more than one million amounts to 12. By country, the Philippines has
eight ranks in the list. By disaster type, storm amounts to 12 out of the 25 disasters followed by eight floods.

Table 6-3: The 25 Worst Disasters in Asia by Number of People Affected, 2018

Disaster TypeCountryDate

1 FloodIndia

07/08/2018

2 Drought

Afghanistan/04/2018

3 Drought

India

4 Storm

Philippines

5 Storm
6 Storm

KilledAffected

Economic Damage(US$ Million)

504.0023,220,000

2,852

0

10,600,000

0/09/2018

08,200,000

1,100

16/09/2018

84

3,800,138

32

China

02/01/2018

21

2,503,700

854

Philippines

17/07/2018

16

2,231,101

88

7 Storm

China

27/12/2018

01,800,000

119

8 Storm

Philippines

19/09/2018

5

1,709,511

19

9 Storm

Philippines

17/07/2018

0

1,677,993

26

10 Flood

China

10/07/2018

16

1,519,000

531

11 FloodJapan

29/06/2018

246

1,500,102

9,500

12 Flood

China

07/07/2018

3

1,381,000

781

13 Storm

Philippines

28/12/2018

182

926,690170

14 Storm

Lao PDR

13/08/2018

0615,145225

15 Flood

DPR Korea

24/08/2018

148581,268

25

16 Earthquake

Indonesia

05/08/2018

564

516,927790

17 StormIndia

16/11/2018

45

500,000775

18 Flood

China

05/05/2018

112

450,000

1,750

19 StormIndia

11/10/2018

85

300,200

920

20 Extreme temperature

Mongolia/01/20180

264,000

0

21 Storm

Philippines

12/02/2018

0254,8593

22 Storm

Philippines

30/10/2018

12

253,300305

23 Flood

China

07/05/2018

77

225,000373

24 Earthquake

Indonesia

28/09/2018

4,340

209,0251,450

25 Flood

Philippines

13/01/2018

11.00

180,000

0

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

126-4 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED PER THOUSAND
POPULATION, 2018
Using the index of the affected people per thousand population, the drought in Afghanistan results in 292 affected
person per thousand population. Among top 25 countries, storm and flood disasters occupy 11 and 10 ranks in thelist, respectively.

Table 6-4: The 25 Worst Disasters in Asia by Number of People Affected per Thousand Population, 2018

Disaster TypeCountry

Date

Affected
per thousand

Affected

Population

1 Drought

Afghanistan/04/2018

292.04

10,600,000

36,296,400

2 Storm

Lao PDR

13/08/2018

88.47

615,145

6,953,035

3 Extreme temperature

Mongolia/01/2018

84.78

264,000

3,113,779

4 Storm

Philippines

16/09/2018

36.13

3,800,138

105,173,264

5 Flood

DPR Korea

24/08/2018

22.86

581,268

25,429,985

6 Storm

Philippines

17/07/2018

21.21

2,231,101

105,173,264

7 FloodIndia

07/08/2018

17.35

23,220,000

1,338,658,835

8 Storm

Lao PDR

18/07/2018

17.26

120,000

6,953,035

9 Storm

Philippines

19/09/2018

16.25

1,709,511

105,173,264

10 Storm

Philippines

17/07/2018

15.95

1,677,993

105,173,264

11 FloodJapan

29/06/2018

11.83

1,500,102

126,785,797

12 Storm

Philippines

28/12/2018

8.81

926,690

105,173,264

13 Flood

Sri Lanka

19/05/2018

7.17

153,71221,444,000

14 DroughtIndia/09/2018

6.13

8,200,000

1,338,658,835

15 Flood

Sri Lanka

06/10/2018

3.50

75,00021,444,000

16 Flood

Sri Lanka

22/12/2018

3.50

75,00021,444,000

17 Storm

Armenia

17/08/2018

3.36

9,900

2,944,809

18 Flood

Mongolia

03/07/2018

2.67

8,301

3,113,779

19 Storm

Philippines

12/02/2018

2.42

254,859

105,173,264

20 Storm

Philippines

30/10/2018

2.41

253,300

105,173,264

21 Flood

Myanmar15/07/2018

2.05

109,650

53,382,581

22 Earthquake

Indonesia

05/08/2018

1.95

516,927

264,645,886

23 Flood

Lao PDR

23/07/2018

1.88

13,1006,953,035

24 Storm

China

02/01/2018

1.81

2,503,700

1,386,395,000

25 Flood

Philippines

13/01/2018

1.71

180,000

105,173,264

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium
Note: Population data is taken from World Bank 2017, with the exception of Taiwan (China) for which the data was extracted from the
IMF World Economy Outlook Database 2017.

13

6-5 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY ECONOMIC DAMAGE, 2018
According to the EM-DAT database, storm in Japan tops in the 25 ranks of the worst economic damage in Asia in2018 with US$ 12.5 billion. By country, Japan occupies 5 out of the top worst 10 ranks and China does 13 out of 25
in the list. By disaster type, storm and flood have the largest shares with 12 and eight ranks respectively.
Table 6-5: The 25 Worst Disasters in Asia by Economic Damage, 2018

Disaster TypeCountry

Date

Total deaths

Total affected

Economic Damage(US$ Million)

1 StormJapan

04/09/2018

17

3,900

12,5002 FloodJapan

29/06/2018

246

1,500,102

9,500

3 Storm

China

15/08/2018

53

39,6005,400

4 StormJapan

28/09/2018

4

18,2004,500

5 EarthquakeJapan

18/06/2018

5

20,7153,250

6 FloodIndia

07/08/2018

504

23,220,000

2,852

7 Flood

China

05/05/2018

112

450,000

1,750

8 Earthquake

Indonesia

28/09/2018

4,340

209,025

1,450

9 Storm

China

24/01/2018

2

7,500

1,450

10 EarthquakeJapan

06/09/2018

44

3,380

1,250

11 DroughtIndia/09/2018

08,200,000

1,100

12 StormIndia

11/10/2018

85

300,200

920

13 Storm

China

02/01/2018

21

2,503,700854

14 Earthquake

Indonesia

05/08/2018

564

516,927790

15 Flood

China

29/08/2018

18

11,400790

16 Flood

China

07/07/2018

3

1,381,000

781

17 StormIndia

16/11/2018

45

500,000775

18 Storm

China

10/09/2018

0

0

770

19 Storm

China

19/07/2018

14

16,200570

20 Flood

China

10/07/2018

16

1,519,000

531

21 Storm

China

10/07/2018

045,000490

22 Flood

China

07/05/2018

77

225,000

373

23 Storm

China

12/08/2018

3

2,400

367

24 Storm

Philippines

30/10/2018

12

253,300305

25 Flood

China

28/06/2018

11

36,000278

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium

146-6 THE 25 WORST DISASTERS IN ASIA BY RATIO OF ECONOMIC DAMAGE TO GDP, 2018
In terms of economic damage incurred relative to gross domestic product (GDP), the storm in Lao PDR results in
the highest damage with 1.33 percent of the GDP, which scores extremely high compared to other percentages in
the list. Storm, flood and earthquake have the highest ranks with 12, 6 and 5 ranks, respectively. Japan shares fiveranks in the list.
Table 6-6: The 25 Worst Disasters in Asia by Ratio of Economic Damage to GDP, 2018

Disaster TypeCountry

Date

Economic

EconomicDamage / GDP

Damage(as per cent)(US$ Million)

GDP(US$ Million)

1 Storm

Lao PDR

13/08/2018

1.3351

225

16,8532 StormJapan

04/09/2018

0.2572

12,5004,859,951

3 FloodJapan

29/06/2018

0.19559,500

4,859,951

4 Earthquake

Indonesia

28/09/2018

0.14281,450

1,015,423

5 FloodIndia

07/08/2018

0.10752,852

2,652,551

6 Storm

Viet Nam

18/07/2018

0.0983

220

223,780

7 Storm

Philippines

30/10/2018

0.0973305

313,620

8 StormJapan

28/09/2018

0.09264,500

4,859,951

9 Earthquake

Indonesia

05/08/2018

0.0778790

1,015,423

10 EarthquakeJapan

18/06/2018

0.06693,250

4,859,951

11 Storm

Philippines

28/12/2018

0.0542

170

313,620

12 Storm

China

15/08/2018

0.04455,400

12,143,491

13 DroughtIndia/09/2018

0.0415

1,100

2,652,551

14 Flood

Iran

05/10/2018

0.0366

166

454,01315 StormIndia

11/10/2018

0.0347920

2,652,551

16 StormIndia

16/11/2018

0.0292775

2,652,551

17 Storm

Philippines

17/07/2018

0.0281

88313,620

18 EarthquakeJapan

06/09/2018

0.02571,250

4,859,951

19 Volcanic activity

Indonesia

22/12/2018

0.0246250

1,015,423

20 Earthquake

Taiwan (China)

06/02/2018

0.0174

100

574,895

21 Storm

Armenia

17/08/2018

0.01582

11,52722 Flood

China

05/05/2018

0.0144

1,750

12,143,491

23 Storm

China

24/01/2018

0.01191,450

12,143,491

24 Flood

Viet Nam

08/12/2018

0.011225

223,780

25 Flood

Viet Nam

23/06/2018

0.0103

23

223,780

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir www.emdat.be, Brussels, Belgium
Note: GDP data is taken from World Bank 2017, with the exception of the data for Taiwan (China), which was extracted from the IMF
World Economy Outlook Database 2017. In addition, DPR Korea was excluded from the list as data on its GDP is not available either
on the World Bank 2017 or the IMF World Economy Outlook Database 2017.

15

7. DISASTERS IN ASIA BY COUNTRY, 2018

Country

Afghanistan

Disaster Type

Occurrence

Total
deathsTotal
affected

Damage('000 US$)

Drought

1

Flood

3

101

10,600,000
4,000

Landslide

2

22

2,750

Armenia

Storm

1

Bangladesh

Extreme temperature

1

34

Flood

2

35

Storm

1

33

Cambodia

Flood

1

5,817

China

Earthquake

2

30,024

9,900

1,822

14,00079,000

Flood

8

244

3,698,400

4,569,972

Storm

12

110

4,609,700

10,675,200

Georgia

Flood

1Hong Kong

Storm

1

300

India

Drought18,200,000

1,100,000

Extreme temperature

1

44

Flood

9

710

23,307,698

2,864,980

Storm

11

625

853,650

2,144,000

Wildfire

1

17

Earthquake

5

4,929

843,394

2,354,000

Flood

6

80

143,464

Landslide2

48

50,014

Volcanic activity

2453

97,778Earthquake

3

2

19,01320,000

Flood

1

9

7,135

166,000

Iraq

Flood

1

21

25,000Israel

Flood

1

12

Japan

Earthquake

2

49

24,095Extreme temperature1

119

49,000

Flood

1

246

1,500,102

9,500,000

Storm

3

24

26,30017,000,000

Jordan

Flood

2

34

Kazakhstan

Flood

1

400

DPR Korea

Extreme temperature

1

13,798

Flood

1

148

Storm

1

86

Rep. of Korea

Extreme temperature

1

Kuwait

Flood

1

1

Lao PDR

Flood

1

136

Storm

2

Lebanon

Storm

1

15

Malaysia

Flood

2

2

Indonesia

Iran

16

1,143

250,000

4,500,000

64

581,268

25,0004,640

13,100735,145

16,900225,000

Country

Mongolia

Myanmar

Nepal

Disaster Type

Occurrence

Total
deathsTotal
affected

Damage('000 US$)

Extreme temperature1

264,000

Flood

1

8,301

Storm

1

Flood

3

35

173,050

Landslide

1

15

45

Mass movement (dry)117Extreme temperature

1

50

Flood

1

15

Oman

Storm

2

6

Pakistan

Extreme temperature

1

180

Flood

1

60

Epidemic

2

519

Flood

1

11

180,000

Storm

8

302

10,937,509

Philippines

1,406

79,376655,253

Volcanic activity

186,056

3,564

Qatar

Flood

1

1,500

10,000

Sri Lanka

Flood

3

34

Taiwan (China)

Earthquake

1

84

285

100,000

Storm

1

7

6,140

34,000

Tajikistan

Flood

1

6

5,725

TurkeyLandslide

1

24

100

Viet Nam

Flood

3

67

127,728

48,000

Storm

4

67

156,028

239,200

Storm

2

49

15,874

Yemen

Total

144

303,712

9,937 67,830,187 56,569,631

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir –www.emdat.be, Brussels, BelgiumThis table shows sum of disaster impacts in Asia in 2018.
In 2018, China, India, Indonesia and the Philippines are recoded over 10 natural disasters. Indonesia accounts for thehighest in the number of people killed by 55.5 percent, followed by India with 14 percent. India is ranked for the mostnumber people affected by 47.7 percent, followed by the Philippines and Afghanistan with 16.6 percent and 15.6 percent
respectively. For economic damage, Japan has the largest share by 54.8 percent, followed by China with 27.1 percent.

17

8.

DISASTERS IN ASIA BY DISASTER TYPE, 2018

Disaster Type

Drought

Earthquake

Country

Occurrence

Total deaths

Total
affected

Damage('000 US$)

Afghanistan

1

10,600,000

India

1

8,200,000

China

2

Indonesia

5

Iran
Japan

1,100,000

30,02479,0004,929

843,394

2,354,000

3

2

19,01320,0002

49

24,0954,500,000

Taiwan (China)

1

84

285

100,000

Epidemic

Philippines

2519

79,376Extreme temperature

Bangladesh

1

34

India

1

44

Japan

1

119

DPR Korea

1Rep. of Korea

1

Mongolia

1

Nepal

1

50

Pakistan1

180Afghanistan

3

101

4,000

Bangladesh

235

14,000

Cambodia

1

China

8

Georgia

1

India

9

710

23,307,698

Indonesia

680

143,464

Iran

1

9

7,135

Iraq

1

21

25,000Israel

1

12

Japan

1

246

Jordan2

34

Kazakhstan

1

DPR Korea

1

Kuwait1

1

Lao PDR

1

136

13,100

Malaysia22

16,900

Mongolia

1

Myanmar3

35

173,050

Nepal

1

15

1,406

Pakistan

1

60Philippines

1

11

180,000

Qatar

1

Sri Lanka

334

303,712

Tajikistan

1

6

5,725

Viet Nam

3

67

127,728Flood

18

49,00013,798264,000

5,817
244

3,698,400

4,569,972

1,143

1,500,102

2,864,980
166,000

9,500,000

64
400

148

581,268

25,000

8,301

1,500

10,00048,000Disaster TypeCountry

Total
affected

Damage('000 US$)

Occurrence

Total deaths

Afghanistan

2

22

2,750

Indonesia

2

48

50,014Myanmar1

15

45

Turkey1

24

100

Mass movement (dry)Myanmar

1

17

Storm

Armenia

1

Bangladesh

1

33

China

12

110

Hong Kong

1

India

11

625

853,650

2,144,000

Japan

3

24

26,30017,000,000

DPR Korea

1

86

Lao PDR2

735,145

225,000

Lebanon1

Mongolia

1

Oman

2

6

Philippines

8302

10,937,509

655,253

Taiwan (China)

1

7

6,140

34,000Viet Nam

4

67

156,028

239,200

Yemen

2

49

15,874

Indonesia

2453

97,778250,000

Philippines

1

86,056

3,564

67,830,187

56,569,631

Landslide

Volcanic activity

Wildfire

India
Total

9,900

1,822

4,609,700

10,675,200

300

4,640

15

1

17

144

9,937

Source: EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Universite catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir –www.emdat.be, Brussels, BelgiumThis table shows disasters in Asia in 2018 by disaster type.
In 2018, flood has the largest impact on 26 countries in Asia and also results in the highest number of occurrence andpeople affected by 39.6 percent and 44.4 percent respectively.
Then storm ranks second in occurrence, affecting 15 countries by 35.4 percent, and ranks the highest amount of
economic damage by 54.8 percent.
In number of people killed, earthquake ranks the first at 51.0 percent, followed by storm by 20.2 percent.
Drought ranks the second in the number of people affected by 27.7 percent although its occurrence shares only 1.4
percent.

19

The Asian Disaster Reduction Center was established in Kobe, Japan in 1998 with the mission to enhancedisaster resilience of its member-countries, to build safe communities, and to create a society where
sustainable development is possible. The Center works to build disaster resilient communities and toestablish networks among countries through many programs including personnel exchanges in this field.

Asian Disaster Reduction Center