2016 catastrophes News

Storms & Earthquakes Drive Up Insured Losses in 1H 2016: Munich Re

Economic losses caused by natural catastrophes in the first half of 2016 totaled US$70 billion, a significant increase from the $59 billion reported for the first half of last year, according to a loss review issued by Munich Re. While …

Chubb Estimates Q2 Cat Losses to Rise 54% from Q1 2016

Property and casualty insurer Chubb Ltd. estimated natural catastrophe losses for the second quarter to be about 54 percent higher than the first quarter, indicating another quarter of high losses due to natural disasters for insurers. Multiple weather events in …

Typhoon Nepartak Lashes Taiwan, to Weaken Before Hitting China

Super typhoon Nepartak hit Taiwan on Friday, driving thousands of people from their homes, disrupting power supply and forcing the cancellation of more than 600 flights, emergency authorities said. Television showed images of tipped-over motorcycles and large signboards being ripped …

Global Flood Events Rack Up $5B in Economic Costs in June: Aon Report

Major floods across the globe during June – topped by events in China and the U.S. – are expected to bring economic costs in excess of US$5.0 billion, according to Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team. Seasonal “Mei-Yu” …

Taiwan Readies for Typhoon Nepartak; AIR Worldwide Comments

Taiwan told schools and offices along its eastern coast to close early Thursday as Typhoon Nepartak threatens to unleash strong winds and heavy rain across the island through Friday. Airlines canceled or rerouted flights in and out of Taiwan. The …

Market Softening Slows but Rate Stabilization Is Elusive: Willis Re

The June/July 2016 renewal season has seen a continuation in market softening, though the magnitude of rate reductions is slowing, according to the latest 1st View Renewals report from Willis Re, the reinsurance business of Willis Towers Watson. Capacity withdrawals …

French & German Floods to Hit Insurers’ Earnings but Not Ratings: A.M. Best

The earnings of French and German insurers during the first half of 2016 will be dampened by flood claims following storms Elvira and Friederike, which pounded the countries in quick succession between late May and early June, according to a …

Global Disasters During May to Cost Insurers at Least $7B: Aon Report

Global disasters led to at least $7 billion in claims during May as insurers aid the recovery process following wildfires, floods, and storms, according to Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team. An historic wildfire caused catastrophic damage in …

Tornado Hits Hamburg – Latest in Europe’s Destructive Summer Storms

A tornado tore through the northeast of Hamburg on Tuesday evening, blowing off the roofs of several buildings, uprooting dozens of trees and damaging cars and a power line as storms that have raged across Europe this month continue to …

Insured Losses from Australia’s Storms Rise to $41.6M

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has expanded the footprint of the latest insurance catastrophe to include the east coast of Victoria and Tasmania’s northern and eastern coastlines. The declaration increases the insurance claims and losses attributable to the severe …