Overview of catastrophes in 2010 Regional overview Insured and economic losses were highe Insured losses were highest in North America, exceeding USD 15bn. However, Asia in North America and Asia respectively. suffered the highest economic losses, with total damages of approximately USD 75bn. Latin America and the Caribeean had the Of the regions, Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest number of victims at more than 225000 Ec Catastrophes in 2010 by regia Insured loss losses As a Number Victims (in USDm)(in USDm) of GDP North America 2055 13% Latin America and the Caribbean 39 225784 8977 10% Oceania/Australia 48400.28% Africa 3370.02% Seas/ Space 14 1623 206 World total 304303573 434752180640.31% Source: Swiss Re Economic Research& Consulting North america North America (losses in USDm) In terms of insured losses, North America had the highest of the regions with losses of 139 more than USD 15bn in 2010. Losses were primarily caused by harsh weather through- Total economic losses 20551 out the year Hurricane losses were very low. In fact, 2010 was the second consecutive 5348 year that hurricanes failed to make landfall; it was the fifth consecutive year without a major hurricane landfall, the last being 2005. when Hurricane Wilma struck Florida in terms of insured losses North america The year, however, was characterised by large non-hurricane losses. In the US. a May was the hardest hit region with insured storm triggered insured losses of USD 2bn, while an October storm caused insured losses of more than USD 15bn property losses of more than USD 2bn. Another storm in March caused insured losses of more than USD 1bn Severe weather conditions in the us resulted in harsh winter storms, tornadoes, floods, damaging winds and hail. Nine of the twenty costliest events in 2010 occurred in the US. Meanwhile, in Canada, a July hailstorm led to insured loss es of more than usd. 5bn Latin America and the Caribbean Latin America and caribbean Approximately 226000 people lost their lives in Latin America and the Caribbean in losses in USDm 2010. Most of them(over 220000) died in the Haiti earthquake in January, which was Victims 225 784 the second deadliest earthquake of the last forty years, after the Tangshan earthquake. Total economic losses 53378 which struck China in 1976. Another 562 people perished in the powerful earthquake Insured losses 8977 in Chile, which was the second largest earthquake- in terms of seismic energy released since 1970 and the sixth largest ever recorded worldwide. The event triggered claims of USD 8bn, accounting for the majority of insured losses in the region, and caused economic losses of usd 3obn The earthquake in Haiti caused further economic losses of USD 10bn, while triggering only USD 100m in insurance claims. These two events caused total insured losses for this region to soar to well above the long-term average Hurricanes caused economic losses of The region was also impacted by hurricane-force winds. Hurricanes Alex and Karl more than USD 7bn in Mexico wreaked havoc in Mexico, causing total economic losses of more than USD 7bn and insured losses of more than usd 400m as also affected by a cold wave and harsh weather in Peru, Chile and other South American countries that claimed 522 lives. Another 500 people died during two floods in Brazil and Colombia. Meanwhile, Tropical storm Agatha struck Guatemala and Honduras causing 301 deaths Swiss Re, sigma No 1/20116 Swiss Re, sigma No 1/2011 Overview of catastrophes in 2010 Regional overview Insured losses were highest in North America, exceeding USD 15bn. However, Asia suffered the highest economic losses, with total damages of approximately USD 75bn. Of the regions, Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest number of victims at more than 225 000. Economic Insured loss losses As a % Region Number Victims (in USDm) (in USDm) of GDP North America 36 139 15 348 20 551 0.13% Latin America and the Caribbean 39 225 784 8 977 53 378 1.10% Oceania/Australia 7 50 8 860 13 131 0.95% Europe 37 56 490 6 303 35 204 0.19% Asia 139 17 955 2 240 74 840 0.28% Africa 32 2’640 124 337 0.02% Seas / Space 14 515 1 623 20 623 – World total 304 303 573 43 475 218 064 0.31% Source: Swiss Re Economic Research & Consulting North America In terms of insured losses, North America had the highest of the regions with losses of more than USD 15bn in 2010. Losses were primarily caused by harsh weather through￾out the year. Hurricane losses were very low. In fact, 2010 was the second consecutive year that hurricanes failed to make landfall; it was the fifth consecutive year without a major hurricane landfall, the last being 2005, when Hurricane Wilma struck Florida. The year, however, was characterised by large non-hurricane losses. In the US, a May storm triggered insured losses of USD 2bn, while an October storm caused insured property losses of more than USD 2bn. Another storm in March caused insured losses of more than USD 1bn. Severe weather conditions in the US resulted in harsh winter storms, tornadoes, floods, damaging winds and hail. Nine of the twenty costliest events in 2010 occurred in the US. Meanwhile, in Canada, a July hailstorm led to insured loss￾es of more than USD 0.5bn. Latin America and the Caribbean Approximately 226 000 people lost their lives in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2010. Most of them (over 220 000) died in the Haiti earthquake in January, which was the second deadliest earthquake of the last forty years, after the Tangshan earthquake, which struck China in 1976. Another 562 people perished in the powerful earthquake in Chile, which was the second largest earthquake - in terms of seismic energy released - since 1970 and the sixth largest ever recorded worldwide. The event triggered claims of USD 8bn, accounting for the majority of insured losses in the region, and caused economic losses of USD 30bn. The earthquake in Haiti caused further economic losses of USD 10bn, while triggering only USD 100m in insurance claims. These two events caused total insured losses for this region to soar to well above the long-term average. The region was also impacted by hurricane-force winds. Hurricanes Alex and Karl wreaked havoc in Mexico, causing total economic losses of more than USD 7bn and insured losses of more than USD 400m. The region was also affected by a cold wave and harsh weather in Peru, Chile and other South American countries that claimed 522 lives. Another 500 people died during two floods in Brazil and Colombia. Meanwhile, Tropical storm Agatha struck Guatemala and Honduras causing 301 deaths. Insured and economic losses were highest in North America and Asia respectively. Latin America and the Caribeean had the most victims. Table 2 Catastrophes in 2010 by region North America (losses in USDm) Victims 139 Total economic losses 20 551 Insured losses 15 348 In terms of insured losses, North America was the hardest hit region with insured losses of more than USD 15bn. Latin America and Caribbean (losses in USDm) Victims 225 784 Total economic losses 53 378 Insured losses 8 977 Hurricanes caused economic losses of more than USD 7bn in Mexico