At least 75% of deaths caused by natural disasters in the first half of the year were in Asia, Munich Re says.

About 12,000 people died in the Nepal earthquake in April and the severe heatwave in India and Pakistan last month.

Overall, more than 16,000 people died from weather-related events and quakes in the six months.

“The natural catastrophes in the first half of the year show us once again that vulnerability to natural catastrophes needs to be reduced, particularly in emerging and developing countries,” Munich Re Reinsurance CEO Torsten Jeworrek said.

“This is necessary first of all to ensure people are better protected, but also to keep losses as low as possible.”

There were 510 natural catastrophes in the first half, resulting in insured losses of $US12 billion ($16.17 billion) and overall losses of $US35 billion ($47.21 billion).

The 7.8-magnitude Nepal quake, which also affected parts of China and India, was the worst natural catastrophe in terms of fatalities and losses, with 8850 deaths and damages estimated at $US4.5 billion ($6.07 billion).

Storms that lashed NSW in April caused overall losses of $US1.5 billion ($2.02 billion), of which $US630 million ($850 million) was insured.

The overall loss from Cyclone Marcia which hit Queensland in February exceeded $US800 million ($1.08 billion), of which $US400 million ($539.63 million) was borne by insurers.

An exceptionally harsh winter in northeast US, which saw record snowfall in Boston, left the region with total losses of $US4.3 billion ($5.8 billion), of which $US3.2 billion ($4.32 billion) was covered by insurance.

Munich Re expects the impact from weather-related events to escalate, particularly with the onset of El Nino, which is associated with higher temperatures and drought-like conditions.

“The currently already intense El Nino phase is expected to become even stronger as we head into the [northern] autumn, and then to abate at the beginning of next year,” the German reinsurer says.