2020 natural catastrophes News

Earthquake Hits Croatia, a Month After Another Tremor Causes Damages of $6B

An earthquake rattled Croatia’s capital, a month after a stronger tremor left Zagreb in need of $6 billion for renovation, adding to a growing list of costs as the European Union battles the coronavirus. The 3.5-magnitude temblor on Thursday was …

UK Insurance Claims from Storms Ciara and Dennis Estimated at US$473.7M

Insurers expect to make payments to customers hit by the recent Storms Ciara and Dennis of over £363 million (US$ 473.7 million), according to initial estimates from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Initial ABI estimates show payouts from Storms …

Insured Property Losses for Australia’s January Hailstorms Hit A$670M: PERILS

The initial insured property losses for January’s hailstorms in Australia are estimated at A$670 million (US$746.7 million), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. The storms occurred Jan. 19-21, 2020 and affected the Australian …

UK Insurers Could See Underwriting Losses After Storms Ciara, Dennis: Fitch

Losses from storms Ciara and Dennis, which brought strong winds, torrential rain and widespread flooding to the UK, will increase pressure on UK household insurers’ profits in 2020, said Fitch Ratings. While the claims are unlikely to exceed £500 million …

Update: UK Issues Severe Flood Warnings as Rivers Peak After Storm Dennis

Residents in central England and Wales piled up sandbags, readied water pumps and hoped for the best Tuesday as rivers peaked after a weekend storm brought up to 6 inches (150 mm) of rain to an already waterlogged region. Environment …

Storm Ciara Batters Europe with Hurricane-Force Winds, Killing at Least 5 People

A strong winter storm that has battered Europe with hurricane-force winds and heavy rains and killed at least five people moved eastward Monday, causing severe travel disruptions across the continent. After striking Britain and Ireland on Sunday, the storm moved …

Australia’s Capital, Canberra, Faces Worst Bushfire Threat in 17 Years

Canberra, Australia’s capital that’s surrounded by bush, is facing its worst wildfire threat in 17 years as a blaze sparked by a military helicopter approaches the city amid heatwave conditions. Residents in Canberra’s southern suburbs should be vigilant after the …

Australian Insurers Should Be Able to Withstand Mounting Bushfire Claims: AM Best

Australian insurers are well-capitalized and should be able to withstand losses from the 2019/2020 bushfire season, aided by strong capital positions and support from reinsurance partners, said AM Best. The ratings agency explained that comprehensive use of reinsurance has helped …

As Insurers Pull Back from Australia’s Bushfire Zones, They Could Become Uninhabitable

Australian wildfires that have razed thousands of homes and blackened an area about the size of England may also create the nation’s first climate refugees. That’s the view of Michael Mann, distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University, …

Bushfire-Ravaged Australians Face Choice in Era of Climate Change: Rebuild or Leave?

It took two years for Nigel Allison to build his mud-brick house on a sleepy southeastern tip of Australia, and just hours for it to be gutted by fire. The cherished three-bedroom home built in 1986 was one of several …