Topic
Catastrophes
New earthquake hits Greek island of Kefalonia; 16 people slightly hurt, roads, port damaged
February 3, 2014 Elena Becatoros, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSATHENS – A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude between 5.7 and 6.1 hit the western Greek island of Kefalonia before dawn Monday, sending frightened residents into the streets just over a week after a similar quake damaged hundreds of…
Terror threats around Sochi Games raise questions on insurance coverage
February 3, 2014 Bruce Cheadle, THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – Canada’s highly paid Olympic men’s hockey professionals are insured against acts of terrorism when they compete in the Sochi Games but it is not at all clear the same coverage extends to their amateur brethren on the Olympic…
Police lay charges against engineer in Elliot Lake mall roof collapse
January 31, 2014 THE CANADIAN PRESSELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A discredited engineer who declared a northern Ontario mall structurally sound just weeks before its roof caved in killing two women was charged Friday in what police described as a “challenging investigation.” Ontario Provincial Police said…
Hundreds file lawsuit against makers of Fukushima nuclear plant, saying they should be liable
January 30, 2014 THE ASSOCIATED PRESSTOKYO – About 1,400 people have filed a joint lawsuit against three companies that manufactured Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, saying they should be financially liable for damage caused by its 2011 meltdowns. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say the lawsuit,…
Government set to raise civilian liability to $1 billion for nuclear operators
January 30, 2014 Bruce Cheadle, THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – The Conservative government is poised to introduce legislation that will raise the liability for civilian damages for nuclear operators to $1 billion from the current $75 million. The Canadian Press has learned that will be included in an…
ICLR workshop to address earthquake risk in Ottawa, Gatineau region
January 28, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction will be hosting a workshop Feb. 21 on earthquake risk in the Ottawa and Gatineau, Que. region. The event, part of the organization’s ongoing Friday Forum series, will host Dariush Motazedian, an associate professor…
Transportation sector target for terror attacks in 2013: Aon
January 28, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterAon Risk Solutions announced Tuesday it has released its annual terrorism and political violence map, which displays colour-coded ratings, of 200 countries and territories, on the risk of several perils to business, including terrorism, riots, insurrection and war. The map…
Another CN Freight train derails in New Brunswick, second in three weeks
January 27, 2014 THE CANADIAN PRESSSAINT BASILE, N.B. – Another CN freight train has derailed in New Brunswick, the second to run off the tracks in the province this month. Local authorities say at least three cars derailed late Sunday night in the Edmunston-area parish…
‘Garbage in, garbage out’: High-quality data key for sound use of earthquake risk models
January 24, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterHaving complete and comprehensive data before running a catastrophe model is crucial when assessing earthquake risk, AIR Worldwide’s experts argue, reiterating a point stressed by the federal regulator in its recently-revised guideline on the issue. Uncertainty in data input creates uncertainty…
Yet another Quebec town reeling as fatal fire rips through seniors’ residence
January 24, 2014 Andy Blatchford, THE CANADIAN PRESSL’ISLE-VERTE, Que. – A Quebec village was jolted awake Thursday to the chaos of people scrambling to free neighbours from a seniors’ residence as wind-fuelled flames rushed to swallow the building. Pascal Fillion, who lives near the seniors’ home…
Investigators: Oil train crash could cause ‘major loss of life;’ issue safety recommendations
January 23, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterWASHINGTON – Warning that a “major loss of life” could result from an accident involving the increasing use of trains to transport large amounts of crude oil, U.S. and Canadian accident investigators urged their governments Thursday to impose new safety…
Transportation Safety Board calls for tougher standards for rail tank cars
January 23, 2014 THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – The Transportation Safety Board is calling for better protection standards for tanker cars used to haul flammable liquids by rail. Acting in the aftermath of the deadly Lac-Megantic disaster, the board is recommending that so-called DOT-111 cars used…