21,000 killed in 'disasters' this year

Natural and manmade disasters this year claimed more than 21,000 lives worldwide and economic losses of €78.8bn, Swiss Reinsurance said today.

Property insurance companies face record claims of €30.6bn, with the largest losses resulting from hurricanes in Florida and typhoons in Japan, according to a preliminary study by the Zurich-based Swiss Re, the world’s second-largest reinsurer.