Japan's earthquake 'the costliest catastrophe of recent times'

1 The Japanese earthquake and tsunami, 2011 Thought to have caused at least $100bn-worth of damage, making it the costliest disaster in recent history, according to "catastrophe modelling" firm Eqecat. 2 Sichuan earthquake, 2008 70,000 died, 18,000 went missing and almost five million lost their homes, according to official figures. Insurer Munich Re put the cost at $85bn. 3 Hurricane Katrina, 2005 More than 1,800 died. Total property damage: $81bn. 4 Pakistan floods, 2010 2,000 died when monsoon rains left a fifth of the country under water. Estimated financial cost: $43bn. 5 Haiti earthquake, 2010 316,000 died, according to the government, and a million were left homeless. The Inter-American Development Bank put rebuilding cost at $14bn. 6 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, 2004 More than 230,000 died in 14 countries. Financial cost unclear; humanitarian aid more than $14bn. 7 Christchurch earthquake, 2011 At least 166 people died and 10,000 buildings were wrecked. JP Morgan puts the cost to insurers at up to $12bn.