Last year was the most expensive in US history for natural disasters, with a series of fires and hurricanes that cost $306 billion, according to a US government report Monday.

A total of 16 disasters cost one billion dollars or more, the most ever, said the report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The previous costliest year for the US was 2005 with losses of $215 billion driven in large part by Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita.

Source: AFP