Flooding

Markel plays down losses from antipodean disasters

Markel International does not expect its future profits to be badly affected by the New Zealand earthquake and recent Queensland flooding, after previous catastrophe events added six points or $33m (£20.5m) to its 2010 full-year combined ratio.

Flood-ravaged Queensland braces for cyclone Yasi

Queensland Australia is bracing itself for Yasi. According to catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide, the cyclone was about 1630 kilometers east northeast of Mackay and moving west at 30km as of the Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology 11:00 EST advisory.

Australian floods expected to cost A$4-A$6bn

Espirito Santo Investment Bank has said the Australian floods will amount to at least two events, and given the mounting political pressure on the local primary insurers the burden for the local primaries is likely to be much more punishing than the…

Suncorp claims hit 10 000

Suncorp expects to have eroded between A$220m (£137m) and A$240m of retained costs under its aggregate reinsurance programme as a result of the Australian floods, as well as other natural hazard events during 2010.

Flash Flooding in Brazil causes devastation

Torrential rain has brought flash flooding and mudslides to the Brazilian state of Rio de Janerio, resulting in damage to property and infrastructure and the deaths of at least 450 people.

Winter freeze claims tipped to top £3bn

Insurance claims caused by burst pipes this winter are likely to outstrip the £3bn loss arising from the 2007 UK floods after short-staffed insurers were unable to deal with claims efficiently, according to the managing director of the National Flood…