Natural disasters' costs reaching a record

The first half of 2010 has been particularly rough as regards natural or man-made catastrophes. According to Standard & Poor's, 2010 have cost the reinsurers 22 billion USD, that is, as much as the entire 2009 while the hurricane season is not yet over. At the end of last February, the Chilean earthquake costs between 8 and 12 billion USD, 520 million USD of which for Munich Re and 400 million for Swiss Re. The same month, it was Xynthia storm that lashed Europe. Reinsurable damages amounted to 3.4 billion USD. The sinking of the oil rig off the coast of the United States is estimated at several billions of dollars.