A deep winter freeze, hailstorms and wildfires led to natural catastrophe losses of $40 billion in the first half of 2021, Swiss Re Institute’s preliminary estimates showed on Thursday.
This is above the previous 10-year average of $33 billion and the second highest on record for a first half after that of 2011, when earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand pushed the six-month total to $104 billion.
Man-made disasters triggered another $2 billion of insured losses in the first half, it estimated, less than usual and likely reflecting COVID-19 restrictions.
Photo : Damaged houses in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Damasi, Thessaly, central Greece, 04 March 2021. A 6,0-magnitude earthquake shook the wider region of Thessaly on 03 March. At least 30 houses were damaged in the vicinity of Mesochori in the municipality of Elassona, Thessaly. EPA-EFE/APOSTOLIS DOMALIS
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