Disasters cost 270 billion in 2011
Natural and man-made disasters caused economic losses of 270 billion euros in 2011, a record amount, according to a study by the reinsurer Swiss Re.
The bill that insurers will have to pay following these disasters amounts to 108 billion USD, or 83 billion euros, to compare with 48 billion USD (or almost 37 billion euros) for 2010, adds Swiss Re, which specifies that this is a preliminary estimate. In 2010, disasters had caused less damage, amounting to only 174 billion euros. The earthquake in Japan in 2011 was the main disaster of the year, says Swiss Re. In the first 11 months of 2011, some 30.000 people lost their lives due to disasters, and the majority of between them in Japan. According to Mr. Kurt Karl, chief economist of Swiss Re, "2011 will be remembered as another year marked by tragic earthquakes, with costly consequences". "Unfortunately, earthquake insurance coverage is still very low, even in some industrialized countries with significant earthquake risks such as Japan," added Karl.
2011 the most expensive year after 2005
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Suite / source: http://www.lesoir.be/actualite/economie ... 884018.php
Record certainly but it remains little ...
I say "only" because it is to be compared to the world GDP ... therefore surprisingly that the politicians, whose only obsession is their GDP (and growth), that we do "nothing" regarding climate change ... climate change which is, moreover, not responsible for all the catastrophes, for example that of March 11 in Japan, probably does not have much to do with global warming ...
Does this cost take into account the "loss of earnings" following a major disaster? And the loss of earnings through human losses?