Natural disasters: toll of H1 2019

According to Swiss Re Institute's preliminary estimates, the natural disasters have caused 40 billion USD in global economic damage during the first half of 2019, that is 11% lower than the 5 billion USD recorded one year earlier and far below the 10-year average of 109 billion USD. For their part, the insured losses fell by 30% at 15 billion USD.

The toll reported also 5 000 victims (dead and missing). Cyclone Idai, which caused severe floods in Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Madagascar, was the deadliest event in the first six months of 2019. It claimed the lives of more than 1 000 people and caused 2 billion USD in damage, 7% of only are born by insurers.