2019 catastrophes News

Floods, Earthquake Pummel Indonesia, Killing More Than 80

The number of people killed after torrential downpours triggered flash floods and mudslides that tore through mountainside villages in Indonesia’s easternmost province has climbed to 79, with dozens of others missing, officials said Monday. On Sunday, the disaster-prone country was …

Mozambique’s Death Toll from Deadly Cyclone Idai Could Top 1000

A tropical cyclone that tore across Mozambique at the weekend may have killed more than 1,000 people, President Filipe Nyusi said, as heavy rains continued to inundate the southeast African nation and neighboring Zimbabwe. “It’s clear that the next few …

Insured Property Loss for Northern Australia Floods Estimated at A$957M: PERILS

Initial insured property losses for floods that recently affected northern Queensland, Australia, and in particular the city of Townsville, are estimated at A$957 million, according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. The Townsville floods …

Tropical Cyclone Idai Devastates Mozambique, Zimbabwe with Death Toll Rising

A tropical cyclone killed at least 166 people in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, destroying roads and bridges and curbing electricity exports to neighboring South Africa. The death toll has risen sharply since Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall almost directly over the …

Cyclone Idai Causes at Least 60 Deaths, Widespread Destruction in Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Idai, which has already caused at least 60 deaths in southern Africa, lashed Mozambique’s coast Friday, knocking out electricity and phone networks in its fourth-biggest city. Idai made landfall just after midnight after strengthening to the equivalent of …

Deadly Tropical Cyclone Idai Barrels Towards Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Idai bore down on Mozambique’s coast as it prepared to make landfall for a second time since causing flooding in southern Africa last week that killed at least 60 people. Idai is equivalent to a Category 3 storm …

Tropical Cyclone Idai Expected to Hit Mozambique as Strongest Storm in Decade

The strongest tropical cyclone in at least a decade is expected to make landfall in Mozambique at the end of the week, bringing devastating winds and floods to the central coastline. The storm, named Idai, has already strengthened to the …

Australia Floods Cost Insurers US$635M in February: Aon’s Catastrophe Recap

Australia’s Northern Queensland experienced widespread flooding from Jan. 26 to Feb. 7, which cost insurers more than A$893 million (US$635 million) with total economic losses of at least A$1.7 billion (US$1.2 billion). according to Impact Forecasting, Aon’s catastrophe model development …

Wildfires Threaten Towns in Rural Southeast Australia

More homes were being threatened Tuesday [March 5] by wildfires that have burned dozens of homes and buildings in rural southeast Australia. Victoria state Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said emergency warnings were issued for the towns of Dargo and …

Vale’s Senior Management Unaware of Dam Risk Report, Says CFO

Senior management at Brazilian miner Vale were never shown internal security documents indicating that its dam at Brumadinho was at risk of collapse, the company’s chief financial officer said on Tuesday [Feb. 12]. The CFO, Luciano Siani, was asked about …