European floods News

German Floods Will Be Expensive but Unlikely to Burn Through Insurers’ Earnings: Fitch

The recent severe floods in Germany could add up to 5 percentage points to German non-life insurers’ net combined ratios (net claims and expenses to net premiums), according to Fitch Ratings. The insured losses are likely to be Germany’s highest …

Death Toll from European Floods Rises Above 180

The death toll from flooding in Western Europe climbed above 180 on Sunday after rescue workers dug deeper into debris left by receding waters. Police put the toll from the hard-hit Ahrweiler area of western Germany’s Rhineland-Palatinate state at more …

Germany Reels from Flood ‘Catastrophe’; Insurers Expect Costly Claims for 2021

Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged swift help backed by “all the power of the state” for people affected by devastating flooding in western Germany, where at least 42 people have died and dozens are missing. Following heavy rain Wednesday night into …

Storms Cause Heavy Flooding Across Parts of Western and Central Europe

Storms caused heavy flooding across parts of western and central Europe overnight, with one man missing after being swept away by a raging stream in eastern Germany. Firefighters resumed their search for the man in Joehstadt, in Saxony state, on …

Study of European Flood Trends Finds North-South Climate Variances

European river flooding has grown more intense in northwestern Europe and decreased in the south over the last half century, according to a study by nearly four dozen researchers. The work, which is the first documentation of long-term flood trends …

Storms, Torrential Floods Lash Sicily, Killing at Least 12 People

Storms lashing Sicily have killed at least 12 people with torrential floods, Italian authorities said as the country’s leader headed Sunday to the stricken Mediterranean island. Divers pulled out nine of those victims from a home flooded by a rapidly …

Climate Change Altering River Flood Patterns in Europe: Study

Climate change is affecting the timing of river floods across Europe and societies may have to adapt to avoid future economic and environmental harm, scientists said. River floods are among the costliest natural disasters worldwide, causing annual damages of more …

Climate Change Is Major Concern for 78% of SMEs: Zurich Report

Climate change is a major concern for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to Zurich Insurance Group’s fourth annual global SME survey. Almost four-fifths (78 percent) of SMEs surveyed expected risks associated with climate change to have a significant effect …

RMS Releases Suite of Europe Inland Flood Risk Data to Open U/W Opportunities

RMS, the Newark, Calif.-based catastrophe risk management firm, has released a suite of Europe inland flood hazard data products. Describing the release as “the highest resolution view of the risk available on the market,” RMS said the data products include …

Allianz Q2 Profit Drops 46% on Nat Cat Claims, Expected Sale of South Korea Unit

Allianz SE said second-quarter profit almost halved, missing estimates, as Europe’s biggest insurer faced higher claims from natural disasters and charges for the expected sale of its South Korea unit. Net income declined to 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) from …