Latest news with #JeromeHaegeli
eNCA
4 days ago
- Business
- eNCA
Natural disasters caused $135 bn in economic losses in first half of 2025: Swiss Re
AFP/File | JOSH EDELSON ZURICH - Natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, reinsurer Swiss Re said on Wednesday. Swiss Re, which serves as an insurer of insurance companies, said first half losses were up from the $123 billion in the first half of 2024. The Zurich-based reinsurance giant estimated that of this year's first half losses, $80 billion had been insured -- almost double the 10-year average, in 2025 prices. The Los Angeles blazes in January constitute the largest-ever insured wildfire loss event by far, reaching an estimated $40 billion, said Swiss Re. It said the "exceptional loss severity" of the fires was down to prolonged winds, a lack of rainfall and "some of the densest concentration of high-value single-family residential property in the US". Swiss Re said losses from wildfires had risen sharply over the past decade due to rising temperatures, more frequent droughts and changing rainfall patterns -- plus greater suburban sprawl and high-value asset concentration. "Most fire losses originate in the US and particularly in California, where expansion in hazardous regions has been high," it said. Before 2015, wildfire-related insured losses made up around one percent of all natural catastrophe claims, but now account for seven percent. - Hurricane season approaching - Insured losses from severe thunderstorms amounted to $31 billion in the first half of 2025. The second half of the year is usually more costly for insurers due to damage during the North Atlantic hurricane season. If current loss trends continue, global insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2025 could exceed the Swiss Re Institute's projections of $150 billion. "The strongest lever to increase the resilience and safety of communities is to double down on mitigation and adaptation. It's here that everyone can help reduce losses before they occur," said Swiss Re's group chief economist Jerome Haegeli. "While mitigation and adaptation measures come at a price, our research shows that, for example, flood protection measures such as dykes, dams and flood gates are up to 10 times more cost-effective than rebuilding." The March earthquake in Myanmar figured among the major natural disasters in the first six months of the year, with the tremors felt in neighbouring Thailand, India, and China. In Thailand alone, insured losses reached $1.5 billion. Overall, while natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses in the first half of 2025, man-made disasters -- which include industrial accidents -- caused another $8 billion in losses, of which $7 billion were insured losses. noo/rjm/giv
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Natural disasters caused $135bn in economic losses in first half of 2025: Swiss Re
ZURICH: Natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, reinsurer Swiss Re said Wednesday. Swiss Re, which serves as an insurer of insurance companies, said first half losses were up from the $123 billion in the first half of 2024. The Zurich-based reinsurance giant estimated that of this year's first half losses, $80 billion had been insured — almost double the 10-year average, in 2025 prices. The Los Angeles blazes in January constitute the largest-ever insured wildfire loss event by far, reaching an estimated $40 billion, said Swiss Re. It said the 'exceptional loss severity' of the fires was down to prolonged winds, a lack of rainfall and 'some of the densest concentration of high-value single-family residential property in the US'. Swiss Re said losses from wildfires had risen sharply over the past decade due to rising temperatures, more frequent droughts and changing rainfall patterns — plus greater suburban sprawl and high-value asset concentration. 'Most fire losses originate in the US and particularly in California, where expansion in hazardous regions has been high,' it said. Before 2015, wildfire-related insured losses made up around one percent of all natural catastrophe claims, but now account for seven percent. Insured losses from severe thunderstorms amounted to $31 billion in the first half of 2025. The second half of the year is usually more costly for insurers due to damage during the North Atlantic hurricane season. If current loss trends continue, global insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2025 could exceed the Swiss Re Institute's projections of $150 billion. 'The strongest lever to increase the resilience and safety of communities is to double down on mitigation and adaptation. It's here that everyone can help reduce losses before they occur,' said Swiss Re's group chief economist Jerome Haegeli. 'While mitigation and adaptation measures come at a price, our research shows that, for example, flood protection measures such as dykes, dams and flood gates are up to 10 times more cost-effective than rebuilding.' The March earthquake in Myanmar figured among the major natural disasters in the first six months of the year, with the tremors felt in neighbouring Thailand, India, and China. In Thailand alone, insured losses reached $1.5 billion. Overall, while natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses in the first half of 2025, man-made disasters — which include industrial accidents — caused another $8 billion in losses, of which $7 billion were insured losses.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Natural Disasters Caused $135 Billion In Economic Losses: Reinsurance Giant Swiss Re
Natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, reinsurer Swiss Re said Wednesday. Swiss Re, which serves as an insurer of insurance companies, said first-half losses were up from the $123 billion in the first half of 2024. The Zurich-based reinsurance giant estimated that of this year's first half losses, $80 billion had been insured -- almost double the 10-year average, in 2025 prices. The Los Angeles blazes in January constitute the largest-ever insured wildfire loss event by far, reaching an estimated $40 billion, said Swiss Re. It said the "exceptional loss severity" of the fires was down to prolonged winds, a lack of rainfall and "some of the densest concentration of high-value single-family residential property in the US". Swiss Re said losses from wildfires had risen sharply over the past decade due to rising temperatures, more frequent droughts and changing rainfall patterns -- plus greater suburban sprawl and high-value asset concentration. "Most fire losses originate in the US and particularly in California, where expansion in hazardous regions has been high," it said. Before 2015, wildfire-related insured losses made up around one per cent of all natural catastrophe claims, but now account for seven per cent. - Hurricane season approaching - Insured losses from severe thunderstorms amounted to $31 billion in the first half of 2025. The second half of the year is usually more costly for insurers due to damage during the North Atlantic hurricane season. If current loss trends continue, global insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2025 could exceed the Swiss Re Institute's projections of $150 billion. "The strongest lever to increase the resilience and safety of communities is to double down on mitigation and adaptation. It's here that everyone can help reduce losses before they occur," said Swiss Re's group chief economist Jerome Haegeli. "While mitigation and adaptation measures come at a price, our research shows that, for example, flood protection measures such as dykes, dams and flood gates are up to 10 times more cost-effective than rebuilding." The March earthquake in Myanmar figured among the major natural disasters in the first six months of the year, with the tremors felt in neighbouring Thailand, India, and China. In Thailand alone, insured losses reached $1.5 billion. Overall, while natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses in the first half of 2025, man-made disasters -- which include industrial accidents -- caused another $8 billion in losses, of which $7 billion were insured losses.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Natural disasters caused $135bn in economic losses in first half of 2025: Swiss Re
A beach house is engulfed in flames as the Palisades Fire burns along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, on January 8, 2025. Natural disasters caused $135 billion (R2.4 trillion) in economic losses globally. Image: Agustin Paullier / AFP Natural disasters caused $135 billion (R2.4 trillion) in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, reinsurer Swiss Re said on Wednesday. Swiss Re, which serves as an insurer of insurance companies, said first half losses were up from the $123bn in the first half of 2024. The Zurich-based reinsurance giant estimated that of this year's first half losses, $80bn had been insured - almost double the 10-year average, in 2025 prices. The Los Angeles blazes in January constitute the largest-ever insured wildfire loss event by far, reaching an estimated $40bn, said Swiss Re. It said the "exceptional loss severity" of the fires was down to prolonged winds, a lack of rainfall and "some of the densest concentration of high-value single-family residential property in the US". Swiss Re said losses from wildfires had risen sharply over the past decade due to rising temperatures, more frequent droughts and changing rainfall patterns - plus greater suburban sprawl and high-value asset concentration. "Most fire losses originate in the US and particularly in California, where expansion in hazardous regions has been high," it said. Before 2015, wildfire-related insured losses made up around 1% of all natural catastrophe claims, but now account for 7%. Hurricane season approaching Insured losses from severe thunderstorms amounted to $31bn in the first half of 2025. The second half of the year is usually more costly for insurers due to damage during the North Atlantic hurricane season. If current loss trends continue, global insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2025 could exceed the Swiss Re Institute's projections of $150bn. "The strongest lever to increase the resilience and safety of communities is to double down on mitigation and adaptation. It's here that everyone can help reduce losses before they occur," said Swiss Re's group chief economist Jerome Haegeli.
Iraqi News
4 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Natural disasters caused $135 bn in economic losses in first half of 2025: Swiss Re
Zurich – Natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, Swiss Re said Wednesday. Swiss Re, which serves as an insurer of insurance companies, said first half losses were up from the $123 billion in the first half of 2024. The Zurich-based reinsurance giant estimated that of this year's first half losses, $80 billion had been insured. The Los Angeles blazes in January constitute the largest-ever insured wildfire loss event by far, reaching an estimated $40 billion, said Swiss Re. It said the 'exceptional loss severity' of the fires was down to prolonged winds, a lack of rainfall and 'some of the densest concentration of high-value single-family residential property in the US'. The March earthquake in Myanmar figured among the major natural disasters in the first six months of the year, with the tremors felt in neighbouring Thailand, India, and China. In Thailand alone, insured losses reached $1.5 billion. The second half of the year is usually more costly for insurers due to damage during the North Atlantic hurricane season. 'The strongest lever to increase the resilience and safety of communities is to double down on mitigation and adaptation. It's here that everyone can help reduce losses before they occur,' said Swiss Re's group chief economist Jerome Haegeli. 'While mitigation and adaptation measures come at a price, our research shows that, for example, flood protection measures such as dykes, dams and flood gates are up to 10 times more cost-effective than rebuilding.'
