FLOODS HIT MALAYSIA, THAILAND AND PHILIPPINES

Malaysia, southern Thailand and the Philippines have all seen severe weather at the start of 2015, according to the latest Aon Benfield weekly catastrophe report. Tropical storm Jangmi, the 21st named storm of the 2014 northwest Pacific typhoon season, caused flooding and strong winds across southern and central Philippines, leaving at least 53 dead. The storm has subsequently dissipated with its remnants impacting Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia over the weekend, adding to the impact of monsoonal rains in the region. In Malaysia, at least 21 people have died as a resulting of flooding, with the most severe damage reported in the state of Kelantan, where 160,000 people were left homeless or displaced. A further 15 deaths have been reported in southern Thailand, where rising water levels have forced 40,000 people from their homes.