ZURICH, Switzerland: Natural and manmade disasters caused a record $27.1 billion in damage to insured property and killed more than 24,000 people worldwide last year, the Swiss Reinsurance Company said. The report said damage costs were 87% higher than in 199], mainly because hurricane devastation in the United States cost companies $17.1! Billion. The report said 13,284 people died last year in natural disasters. The death toll in 1991 included 140,000 people killed in cyclones in Bangladesh, The report said 11,140 people were killed in “major” manmade accidents such as fires, explosions and traffic accidents. The tally also included 1,769 people killed in 30 plane accidents.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 9, 1993
