Insured losses from catastrophes and disasters up 34% says Swiss Re.

(From InsuranceNewslink.com)

According to initial estimates from Swiss Re's sigma team, worldwide economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters were $222bnb in 2010, more than triple the 2009 figure of $63bn. The cost to the global insurance industry was $36bn, an increase of 34% over the previous year. Approximately 260,000 people died in these events, the highest number since 1976.

In 2010, severe catastrophes claimed significantly more lives than the previous year: nearly 260,000 were killed, compared to 15,000 in 2009. The deadliest event in 2010 was the Haiti earthquake in January, claiming more than 222, 00 lives. Approximately 15,000 people …