Insured losses for winter storm Ciara-Sabine estimated at €1.1bn - €1.9bn

Insured losses due to wind from winter storm Ciara-Sabine will range between €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) and €1.9 billion, the majority of them focused in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. This is according to risk modelling firm AIR Worldwide.

Storm Ciara was officially named on Wednesday, February 5, by the UK Met Office, making it the third windstorm the agency has named this season. Ciara struck parts of Ireland and the UK on Sunday, February 9, then moved to Europe where it was named Sabine in Germany and also impacted France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway (where it was named Elsa), and other European countries.

In addition to significant wind damage, storm Ciara has caused coastal and inland flooding in the UK and downed trees and power lines, which caused 675,000 homes to lose electricity there, in addition to 10,000 in Ireland. Power outages affected tens of thousands of homes in Germany and France as well, with power cuts affecting nearly 500,000 people across Europe.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled in the UK, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands; long-distance train service was suspended in Germany; and the ports of Dover, England, and Calais, France, were shut down. In addition, storm surge affected Hamburg after Sabine caused the Elbe River to rise.

AIR Worldwide’s modelled insured loss estimates include insured physical damage from wind to property (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and auto), including structures and their contents, as well as business interruption and additional living expenses. These modelled insured loss estimates do not include: losses due to coastal or inland flooding; additional living expenses (ALE) for residential claims for all modelled countries, except the UK; losses to uninsured properties; losses to infrastructure; and demand surge.

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