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WEATHER

Storm ‘Xynthia’ could cost Allianz €300 million

The deadly Atlantic storm ‘Xynthia’ could end up costing German insurance giant Allianz €300 million after leaving a wake of destruction across Europe last weekend.

Published: 4 March 2010 15:57 CET
Storm ‘Xynthia’ could cost Allianz €300 million
Photo: DPA

The head of research and development at Allianz Re, Silvio Tschudi, said in Munich on Thursday that damage claims from Portugal, Spain, France and Germany would total between €100 million and €300 million.

The catastrophe risk analysis firm AIR Worldwide has estimated ‘Xynthia’ was responsible for €1.5 billion and €3 billion in damages across Europe.

The violent storm cut a deadly swathe through Western Europe last week, killing over 50 people amid gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour and eight-metre (26 foot) waves.

The brutal winter in Germany had also caused an inordinate amount of smaller claims for insurers, which had to cover pedestrians slipping on icy sidewalks, frozen pipes bursting and weather-related business closures.

But Tschudi said the cold winter was neither proof for or against global warming, pointing instead to long-term weather trends showing an increase in natural disasters.

“According to our estimates, damages covered by insurers will increase on average $41 billion per year between 2010 and 2019,” he said.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast.

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WEATHER

More rain forecast as storms hit western Germany

Severe storms and heavy rain affected parts of Germany on Thursday, creating disruptions. More rain is forecast on Friday but weather warnings have been lifted.

Published: 3 May 2024 09:53 CEST
More rain forecast as storms hit western Germany

Major storms hit western Germany on Thursday, causing travel disruption and flooding. 

In parts of Baden-Württemberg, streets were flooded and rivers swelled. Bisingen, southwest of Tübingen, was particularly hard hit, with cellars and streets plunged under water.

Police said there was also traffic disruption. In Baden-Württemberg’s state capital Stuttgart, severe storms and lightning caused issues and some roads were closed.

A lightning strike in the Sigmaringen area resulted in a broken signal box on the railway line. According to Deutsche Bahn, no train journeys were possible in the region in the early evening with several delays and cancellations.

Other states were also affected.

There were around 300 relief operations in the Ahrweiler district in Rhineland-Palatinate, which was hit by the 2021 deadly flood disaster.

Police said no-on was injured, although basements and streets were flooded. The water levels of the Ahr were being closely monitored.

Emergency services in Bisingen on Thursday.

Emergency services in Bisingen on Thursday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Silas Stein

In Trier, too, streets were flooded after heavy rain and there were hailstorms. The Koblenz police headquarters reported fallen trees. Significant property damage due to full cellars and flooded streets was also reported in some areas. 

Heavy showers also fell in Hesse, accompanied by thunder storms. In Frankfurt, according to the fire department, the heavy rain caused water to enter the Bethanien Hospital and even reach the intensive care unit of the clinic.

“We were able to contain the damage relatively quickly and prevent it from spreading,” said fire department spokesman Thorben Schemmel, adding that no patients were affected.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Eifel region was particularly affected, with reports of flooded streets after heavy rain and hailstorms.

North Rhine-Westphalia also saw storms late in the afternoon on Thursday. 

The German Weather Service (DWD) said it expected some heavy rain and hail in parts of the country on Friday – particularly in the west – and at the weekend but warnings of severe weather have been lifted. 

The DWD said there could still be one or two strong thunderstorms in the northeast on Friday. However, it will be a significantly quieter day compared to Thursday. Temperatures of up to 25C can be expected.

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