"Disaster costs were estimated at $34.5 billion (SFr39 billion) for 2006, a much lower figure than in 2005 - $210 billion - the year of the devastating Hurricane Katrina.
"The figures confirm the trend of the past years," Niskala told reporters. By October 2007, 410 disasters had been tallied, 56 per cent of which were weather-related.

Overall, the agency noted that in the past ten years (1997-2006) the number of natural disasters had increased by 60 per cent compared with the previous decade.

The number of dead doubled during this period to 1.2 million people.

Although some of the figures could be due to better reporting, said the Federation, there was no doubt that "severe disasters are also on the increase"."