World Meteorological Organisation

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says its "Atlas" is the most comprehensive review of mortality and economic losses from weather, water and climate extremes ever produced.

It surveys some 11,000 disasters occurring between 1979-2019, including major catastrophes such as Ethiopia's 1983 drought, which was the single most fatal event with 300,000 deaths, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that was the most costly, with losses of $163.61 billion.

This was revealed by WMO Secretary General Petteri Taalas when addressing Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) in Honiara.

“We will also strengthen our office in Samoa.

“To enhance our impact we have started building our partnership with other players. For us the important players are World Bank, ISDR, SPREP, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, ICAO, IMO and WHO. These partnerships we are building I would like also to happen at country level,” Taalas told delegates and members of PMC.