El Nino, heat fuel destructive storms across Pacific

A strengthening El Nino is stirring up a dangerous mix of typhoons and hurricanes across the Pacific, fuelling storms that have killed hundreds, disrupted trade and caused billions of dollars in damage. Another storm neared Japan on Monday and more could be possible in the region through Nov.The situation stands in contrast to a very quiet Atlantic, which has had its calmest start since 1941. Pacific cyclones have caused more than 230 deaths since April, media reports show, while natural disasters - including three back-to-back storms - caused an estimated $8.5 billion in direct economic losses in China in July alone, according to US govt statistics.The disruption hasn't been confined to communities in the storms' paths.