catastrophes News

Brazil to Sue BHP and Vale for $5.24B in Damages Caused by Burst Dam Disaster

Brazil’s federal and state governments plan to sue the owners of the Samarco iron ore miner for 20 billion reais ($5.24 billion) in damages caused by the burst of a tailings dam, Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira told reporters on Friday …

Weather-Related Disasters Occurred Almost Daily in Past Decade: U.N. Report

Weather related disasters such as floods and heatwaves have occurred almost daily in the past decade, almost twice as often as two decades ago, with Asia being the hardest hit region, a U.N. report said on Monday. While the report …

Brazil Mining Disaster to Lead to Stricter Insurance Standards, Oversight

Brazil’s worst mining accident will lead to stricter insurance standards under a revised version of an industry bill first introduced to Congress two years ago. The cost of damage to communities, loss of life and environmental consequences from the Nov. …

Mine Disasters Show Real Cost of Using Cheap Solutions for Waste Storage

As miners globally review the way they store waste in the wake of another horrific dam spill, the solution may be as simple as it is dramatic: spend a lot more. Images of sludge spewing into towns and rivers could …

Brazil Mine Disaster Could Devastate Ecosystem for Many Years

The collapse of two dams at a Brazilian mine has cut off drinking water for quarter of a million people and saturated waterways downstream with dense orange sediment that could wreck the ecosystem for years to come. Nine people were …

Brazil Slaps Initial Fine of $66 Million on Mine for Burst Dam Disaster

Brazil’s president slapped preliminary fines of 250 million reais ($66.2 million) against a mine in the country’s southeast where two dams burst, killing nine people and coating a two-state area with mud and mine waste. The fines, announced after President …

Brazil Vows to Make BHP & Vale Pay Fine & Cleanup Costs for Mine ‘Catastrophe’

Brazil’s government said on Wednesday it may fine mining giants BHP Billiton Ltd and Vale SA for the “environmental catastrophe” caused by ruptured dams at an iron ore mine jointly owned by the companies in a southeastern state. The government …

Insurers Face Claims of $600 Million from Brazilian Mine Disaster: Sources

Insurers covering risks for a Brazilian mine where two dams burst last week, killing at least six people, could pay up to $600 million in claims, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday. A property policy …

Global Cat Losses in October Likely to Top $10 Billion: Impact Forecasting Report

Global catastrophe losses in October are expected to top $10 billion, according to a report from Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development unit. A record 22 global tropical cyclones have now developed in the Northern Hemisphere during 2015, said …

Allianz’ Q3 Profit Down 15% as Earnings Decline at P&C, Asset Management Units

Allianz SE, Europe’s biggest insurer, said third-quarter profit dropped 15 percent as earnings at its property and casualty and asset management units declined. Net income fell to 1.36 billion euros ($1.48 billion) from 1.61 billion euros [$1.7 billion] a year …