More Than 87 Million People to Face Climate Disasters in 2025
Preliminary figures from the International Disaster Database, analyzed by Mongabay, reveal that over 87.8 million people worldwide will be impacted by climate-related disasters in 2025. These catastrophic events are expected to include flash floods, landslides, severe storms, wildfires, and droughts. Among these disasters, drought and food insecurity pose the greatest threat, affecting millions across vulnerable regions.
In Syria, one of the world's most arid countries, a historic drought lasting 36 years has already caused significant hardship. According to recent estimates, approximately 14.5 million people in Syria are at risk of food shortages due to this prolonged drought. Similarly, in Kenya, a particularly harsh January 2025 drought has left over 2 million people struggling with insufficient food supplies. In the Madhesh province of Nepal, a severe September drought has already claimed the lives of an additional 1.2 million people, exacerbating the already dire situation.
The year 2025 is projected to be the deadliest on record for tropical storms and cyclones. A rare convergence of two tropical cyclones and a typhoon caused devastating impacts across Asia, resulting in thousands of deaths. According to preliminary data, Indonesia reported over 1,109 fatalities, while Sri Lanka reported 826 casualties. The death toll extended further into neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Thailand, and Cuba, underscoring the scale of this climate-driven catastrophe.
The database indicates that globally, climate-related disasters in 2025 are expected to result in over 8,000 lives lost due to insufficient data collection. However, this number is likely underestimated, as many events went unreported or were underdocumented, particularly in regions with limited access to reliable information systems.
The year’s most destructive storm, Hurricane Melissa, which reached unprecedented wind speeds of 295 kilometers per hour (185 miles per hour), caused widespread devastation across the Caribbean. The hurricane claimed at least 127 lives in affected nations including Jamaica, Haiti, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Researchers attribute much of the increased intensity and likelihood of such extreme weather events to human-caused warming, particularly from the burning of fossil fuels.
World Weather Attribution (WWA), a global research network, has emphasized that climate change is increasingly driving these intense weather patterns. Their findings underscore the urgent need for both transitioning away from fossil fuels and investing in effective adaptation measures. They caution that while climate change poses significant challenges, it also offers opportunities for resilience through proactive planning and infrastructure development.
WWA researchers further highlighted that events like Hurricane Melissa demonstrate the limitations of preparedness and adaptation, especially when targeting small island nations vulnerable to direct storm impacts. Even with high levels of preparedness, extreme weather events can lead to catastrophic losses in terms of lives, property, and ecosystems.
The researchers concluded by stressing the importance of coordinated global action to address climate change. They emphasized that transitioning from fossil fuels is essential but must be accompanied by robust adaptation strategies to mitigate the devastating impacts of climate-related disasters. The events of 2025 serve as a stark reminder of the dire need for urgent and comprehensive responses to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems worldwide.
This harsh reality calls for immediate and significant changes in how we approach climate challenges, urging global leaders and policymakers to prioritize climate resilience and sustainable development to ensure a safer future for generations to come.
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