ABSTRACT
There are three trends in the development of catastrophes worldwide.First, the frequency of catastrophe grows higher and has increased by five times from 1970 to 2013, and there are now almost 180 catastrophes per year, on average. Second, the economic loss of a single catastrophe and the total loss caused by all catastrophes are constantly rising. North America, Europe and Asia are the regions that suffer the most loss, astotal economic loss there accounts for over 90% of the world’s total loss. Third, the casualties have become increasingly serious. Acatastrophe that causes a death toll of over 100,000 used to occur once very ten years butnow occurs once every fouror even two years.
