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Disasters claim fewer lives this year but cost insurers more - Swiss Re

by Reuters
Thursday, 18 August 2016 09:51 GMT

A woman holding a girl walks next to a collapsed house caused by an earthquake in Mashiki town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo, April 17, 2016. REUTERS/Kyodo

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Swiss Re estimates 6,000 people lost their lives in natural and man-made disasters in first half of 2016

ZURICH, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Natural and man-made catastrophes cost insurers an estimated $31 billion in the first half of 2016, a rise of 51 percent, although they claimed only half as many lives, Swiss Re said on Thursday.

Insurers covered a much higher proportion of the total $71 billion in disaster losses than in previous years, preliminary data from Swiss Re's regular "sigma" survey showed, as catastrophes struck in regions including Europe, Canada and the United States with high insurance penetration. 

The costs borne by insurers for disasters ranging from U.S. thunderstorms to Japanese earthquakes stood just above the ten-year average of $30 billion for the half year, despite total economic losses from natural and man-made catastrophes falling well below the $110 billion average.

The world's second-largest reinsurer estimated 6,000 people lost their lives during these disasters.

While rising catastrophe costs can often move reinsurance prices upwards, Swiss Re's chief financial officer said in July the half year's losses were not immediately expected to have a significant impact given the fierce competition in the industry. 

(Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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