Topic
Catastrophes
Crawford & Company Canada partners with CatIQ to provide real-time cat zone information
August 13, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterCrawford & Company Canada has joined Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) as a partner, to provide CatIQ users with real-time information from catastrophe zones across the country. Subscribers can gain information such as photos, videos and text based reporting…
Wildfires raging across B.C. force air advisory for Metro Vancouver area
August 13, 2014 THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Wildfire smoke blowing in from outside Metro Vancouver has prompted an air quality advisory for the region and Fraser Valley area. Metro Vancouver officials are urging anyone with a chronic medical condition to avoid strenuous exercise because of…
Munich Re profit up in second quarter
August 7, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterMunich Re has reported a consolidated profit of 769 million euros for the second quarter of the year, up from 542 million euros in the same period last year. For the first six months of the year, the German company’s…
Four days after southern China earthquake, death toll rises to 615 with 114 others missing
August 7, 2014 THE ASSOCIATED PRESSBEIJING – The death toll from a powerful earthquake that hit southern China four days ago rose to 615 on Thursday, with 114 other people missing, China’s official news agency reported. A total of 3,143 people were known to have…
Canterbury earthquake claims payouts pass $12 billion
August 6, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterInsurance payouts for claims from the 2010 Canterbury earthquake have topped $12 billion, the Insurance Council of New Zealand reported Wednesday. As of the end of June 2014, private insurers had paid out $7.7 billion in commercial claims and $4.4…
Local emergency declared as investigation begins into B.C. mine failure
August 6, 2014 Dene Moore, THE CANADIAN PRESSLIKELY, B.C. – The president of Imperial Metals has apologized to residents living downstream from a toxic flood from one of the company’s gold and copper mines in the British Columbia Interior. Brian Kynoch told about 200 residents of Likely,…
Strong, shallow undersea earthquake hits off eastern Indonesia; no injuries reported
August 6, 2014 THE ASSOCIATED PRESSJAKARTA, Indonesia – A strong, shallow earthquake shook the seas off eastern Indonesia on Wednesday, but did not cause major damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude-6.1 quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) and was…
Death toll from strong earthquake in southern China rises to 398, with more than 1,800 injured
August 5, 2014 Christopher Bodeen, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSKUNMING, China – Rescuers dug through shattered homes Monday looking for survivors of a strong earthquake in southern China’s Yunnan province as the death toll rose to at least 398 people, with more than 1,800 injured. About 12,000 homes collapsed…
Earthquake hits South Africa, 1 killed; buildings shake in Johannesburg and surrounding areas
August 5, 2014 Christopher Torchia, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSJOHANNESBURG, South Africa – An earthquake shook buildings in Johannesburg and surrounding areas in South Africa’s most populous province on Tuesday. At least one person was killed and three were injured, medical staff said. The magnitude-5.3 quake was centred in…
Taiwan gas pipeline blasts kill 25, injure 267, leaving gouged streets filled with debris
August 1, 2014 Gladys Tsai, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSKAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Heavy machinery pulled vehicles from huge trenches gouged by explosions along an underground pipeline in Taiwan’s second-largest city that killed at least 25 people and injured 267. The series of five explosions from about midnight Thursday to…
Earthquake leaves 6 dead, 420 injured in Algeria
August 1, 2014 THE ASSOCIATED PRESSALGIERS, Algeria – Algerian officials say six people are dead and 420 injured following an earthquake that shook Algiers Friday morning. Algeria’s health ministry says four of the victims died after jumping from windows in panic. Authorities say two more…
Lessons from a Disaster Zone
August 1, 2014 Alex Vinden, Associate, Giffin KoerthLessons learned on the ground from the EF2-rated tornado that touched down in Essa Township June 17 could prove of value to communities, responding agencies and insurers in future disasters.