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UN Meteorological Agency: Asia is Most Climate Disaster-impacted Region

FILE PHOTO: A drone view of a flooded village in Mokhada after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall, in the western state of Gujarat, India, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A drone view of a flooded village in Mokhada after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall, in the western state of Gujarat, India, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
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UN Meteorological Agency: Asia is Most Climate Disaster-impacted Region

FILE PHOTO: A drone view of a flooded village in Mokhada after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall, in the western state of Gujarat, India, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A drone view of a flooded village in Mokhada after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall, in the western state of Gujarat, India, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo

Asia was the world's most disaster-hit region by climate related hazards last year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said, with floods and storms causing the highest number of casualties.
In a report published on Tuesday, WMO said that 79 disasters linked to hydro-meteorological events had been reported in Asia in 2023. More than 80% of these were related to floods and storms that caused more than 2,000 deaths, Reuters reported.
"Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
"Climate change exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events."
Asia is warming faster than the global average, according to WMO. Last year, high average temperatures were recorded from western Siberia to central Asia, as well as from eastern China to Japan.
The report also highlighted that most glaciers in the high-mountain region in Asia had lost significant mass because of record-breaking high temperatures and dry conditions.

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Schools on 4 Greek Islands Will Stay Shut Next Week as Earthquakes Continue

A cat walks in the village of Oia, as the increased seismic activity continues on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)
A cat walks in the village of Oia, as the increased seismic activity continues on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)
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Schools on 4 Greek Islands Will Stay Shut Next Week as Earthquakes Continue

A cat walks in the village of Oia, as the increased seismic activity continues on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)
A cat walks in the village of Oia, as the increased seismic activity continues on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)

Schools on four Greek islands will remain closed through next week as earthquakes continue to rattle the region, authorities said Saturday.

More than 800 tremors of magnitude 3 and over have been recorded on the tourist islands of Santorini, Amorgos, Anafi and Ios since Feb. 1, triggering an exodus of most of Santorini's 16,000 residents as well as visitors.

Even though the earthquake activity has somewhat abated, 11 tremors of at least magnitude 4 hit on Saturday, according to the Athens Institute of Geodynamics. The strongest was 4.9 at 11 a.m. There were no reports of major damage or casualties since the quakes started.

Experts say they cannot exclude stronger quakes.

Authorities in Athens said that schools in the four islands will remain closed until Feb. 14.

Greece's strongest earthquake of the 20th century, a magnitude 7.7., struck near Amorgos in July 1956, killing 53.

Experts said the latest tremors have nothing to do with Santorini's volcano, which around 1600 B.C. produced one of the most violent eruptions in human history. A second volcano nearby erupted about 375 years ago.