CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Impact
Forecasting, Aon Benfield's
catastrophe model development team, today launches the latest
edition of its monthly Global Catastrophe Recap report, which
evaluates the impact of the natural disaster events that occurred
worldwide during January 2018.
Aon Benfield is the global
reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon plc
(NYSE:AON).
The report reveals that several Atlantic storm systems impacted
Western and Central Europe during
the month, the most significant of which was Windstorm Friederike,
which killed at least 13 people after hurricane-force wind gusts
and heavy rainfall affected Germany, the
Netherlands, Belgium,
France, and the United Kingdom.
The German Insurance Association (GDV) reported that Friederike
was the costliest windstorm in the country since Windstorm Kyrill
in 2007, with preliminary payouts listed at approximately
EUR1 billion (USD1.24 billion).
Additional payouts exceeding EUR100
million (USD125 million) were
reported by other regional insurance groups. Overall economic
losses were even higher.
Windstorms Eleanor and Carmen also impacted Western and
Central Europe, killing at least
seven people and causing notable damage in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Switzerland. Preliminary insured losses were
listed in the hundreds of millions (EUR).
Michal Lörinc, an analyst with Impact Forecasting's Catastrophe
Insight team, said: "A meteorologically active January resulted in
elevated windstorm losses in Europe. When looking at the combined effect of
storms Friederike, Eleanor and Carmen, windstorm-related economic
and insured losses in Europe are
already comparable to the annual totals recorded throughout 2017.
The busy stretch of storms allowed Impact Forecasting to deploy its
European windstorm model and help clients better capture the
expected loss impact from each event in real-time."
Further natural disaster events to have occurred elsewhere
during January include:
- A powerful storm system and significant cold impacted much of
the central and eastern United
States during the first week of January, killing at least 22
people. Total economic damage was estimated at USD1.1 billion, while public and private insurers
were expected to pay up to USD750
million in claims.
- Numerous areas of low pressure and extended periods of frigid
temperatures affected Northern and Eastern China. The greatest impacts were noted
to the agricultural sector in Jiangsu, Anhui, Hebei,
and Hunan. The Ministry of Civil
Affairs (MCA) cited winter weather damage of at least USD1.8 billion.
- Additional wintry weather led to casualties and damage in
Japan, India, Nepal,
Canada, and Lebanon.
- Heavy rainfall swept across the state of California, prompting flash flooding,
mudslides and debris flow in areas previously impacted by major
December 2017 wildfires, killing at
least 21 people. An official assessment from Cal Fire cited that 129 single family residences
and six commercial properties were destroyed and another 307 homes
and 17 commercial properties were damaged. Total economic damage
was expected to reach well into the hundreds of millions
(USD).
- Persistent heavy rainfall recorded in Northern and Eastern France led to flooding along multiple
rivers and streams, with some of the most notable impacts occurring
in the Île-de-France region.
Preliminary damage assessments suggested that the cost of the
current flooding may reach the hundreds of millions (EUR).
- Other flood events were noted in Canada, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Philippines.
- Two powerful cyclones in the South West Indian Ocean led to
widespread damage. Cyclone Ava left at least 73 people left dead or
missing in Madagascar, while
Cyclone Berguitta caused extensive damage in Mauritius and La Reunion.
- A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck just offshore Peru's northern coast on January 14, killing at least two people, injuring
137 others, and damaging or destroying 2,541 homes and other
structures.
To view the full Impact Forecasting January 2018 Global Catastrophe Recap report,
please follow the link:
http://aon.io/2FVWwb4
Along with the report, users can access current and historical
natural catastrophe data and event analysis on Impact Forecasting's
Catastrophe Insight website, which is updated bi-monthly as new
data become available:
www.aonbenfield.com/catastropheinsight
Further information
For further information please contact the Aon Benfield PR team:
Andrew Wragg (+44 207 522 8183 /
07595 217168) David Bogg or
Alexandra Lewis
Follow Aon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aon_plc
For information on Aon plc. and to sign-up for news
alerts: http://aon.mediaroom.com
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