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UK in top 10 at 'greatest economic risk' from flooding
The UK is the seventh most likely economy to suffer under flooding, according to a new world ranking. The US, China, India, Bangladesh, Germany and Japan were the only economies at greater risk from flooding, said risk assessment firm Maplecroft.
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Somerset farmer: Floods caused '£20,000 in damages'
A Somerset farmer has suffered at least "£20,000" of damage thanks to the floods but fears there may be worse to come as the waters have yet to recede, he told Daybreak.
James Hall said he was facing "washed away" bridges and gateways, and getting back on their feet would be "a long time in the making".
UK resilience 'will depend heavily' on Govt spending
The UK economy's ability to weather future problems caused by floods will "depend heavily" on Government spending, risk experts have said.
Dr Richard Hewston, Maplecroft's Principal Environment Analyst, said:
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UK faces 'highest exposure' to extra-tropical cyclones
The UK economy will have more exposure to extra-tropical cyclones - the type of storm seen over recent weeks - than any other country in the world, according to a global ranking of countries and natural risks.
Risk-assessment firm Maplecroft, who put together the ranking, also found:
- Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US economies will also suffer under these storms, which are considered the most disruptive and costly natural hazard facing northern Europe.
- The UK was also found to be one of the best placed countries to weather the impacts of natural hazards, ranking 184th out of 197 in Maplecroft's Socio-economic Resilience Index, analysed by calculating a country's capacity to mitigate and manage natural hazard risks.
- The UK had both high physical and economic exposure to extreme weather, as well as high resilience to natural hazards because of spending power and robust infrastructure.
UK 7th for 'greatest economic risk' from flooding
Britain has made it into the top 10 of countries at greatest economic risk from flooding, according to a new global ranking.
The UK comes in behind the US, China, India, Bangladesh, Germany and Japan, who are at greater economic risk, according to an index produced by UK-based risk analysis company Maplecroft.
The findings are part of Maplecroft's fourth annual Natural Hazards Risk Atlas which looks at 197 countries on physical and economic exposure to 12 types of natural hazards, including flooding, storm surge, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, wildfires and volcanoes.
Despite the high overall ranking, Maplecroft put the UK at 42 for most at risk of physical exposure to flooding.
However, high population and closeness of commercial centres, property and infrastructure projects which were susceptible to flood waters pushed the UK's overall risk much higher.