2022 catastrophes News

Greece Wildfire Threatens Homes Near Athens

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greek firefighters on Sunday were battling a wildfire for a second day near two Athens suburbs. Local media reported some damage to houses as well as vehicles, with 65 fire engines and 283 firefighters still operating …

Hurricane Agatha Brings Flooding, Mudslides to Mexico, Killing at Least 11

SAN ISIDRO DEL PALMAR, Mexico (AP) – Hurricane Agatha caused flooding and mudslides that killed at least 11 people and left 20 missing, the governor of the southern state of Oaxaca said Tuesday. Gov. Alejando Murat said rivers overflowed their …

North Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins With Ripe Conditions for Above-Average Activity

As the North Atlantic hurricane season begins officially today, forecasters continue to predict above-average storm activity. The pre-season forecast update for North Atlantic hurricane activity still predicts 18 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major (Category 3 and above) hurricanes, …

Season’s First Hurricane Pummels Mexico With Strong Winds, Heavy Rain

Hurricane Agatha made landfall in Mexico’s Oaxaca state Monday afternoon in what’s expected to be the strongest May storm to hit the eastern Pacific on record. Agatha was already raking the Pacific coastline with damaging gusts and heavy rain early …

Natural Disasters, Ukraine War Weigh on Q1 Results of Europe’s Major Reinsurers

Three out of four of the major European reinsurers reported their profits were negatively affected as a result of elevated natural catastrophe claims and a first round of claims reserves from the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Fitch Ratings in a …

Insurance Price Tag for Australia’s Record-Breaking Floods Estimated at A$3.35B: ICA

The storms and floods that hit South-East Queensland and coastal New South Wales in February and March are likely to be Australia’s costliest floods on record, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA). Using updated data, the ICA said …

Swiss Re Reports Q1 Loss as Ukraine War, Natural Disasters and COVID Take Their Toll

Swiss Re reported a group net loss of $248 million during the first quarter, as a result of headwinds such as the war in Ukraine, higher-than-expected natural catastrophes and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This loss compares with net income of …

Insured Losses From Eastern Australia Floods Estimated at A$4B: PERILS

Initial insurance losses for the Eastern Australia floods are estimated at A$3.99 billion (US$2.97 billion), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. The PERILS loss estimate for the floods, which inundated Eastern Australia during …

Natural Disasters Cost Global Economy $32B in Q1, With Only $14B Insured: Aon

Preliminary economic losses from natural hazards billion during the first quarter of 2022 totaled $32, of which less than 50% (or $14 billion), was covered by public and private insurers, according to a report published by Aon. Although the first …

Update: South Africa’s Deadliest Floods in 6 Decades Claim More Than 300 Lives

South Africa declared floods that killed more than 300 people in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province a disaster, enabling the government to free up funds to assist with reconstruction in the area. The heaviest rainfall in at least six decades last …