Floods in Europe and an earthquake in China are among the natural disasters that caused $ 85 billion in economic losses in the first half of 2013, according to Aon Plc.
The amount is 10 billion dollars higher than in the same period of 2012 and 15% lower than the 10-year average, said the report of Aon, quoted by Bloomberg.
Insurance losses for the six months to June amounted to at least $ 20 billion, which is about 20% less than a year earlier.
"The most costly natural disaster in the first half of 2013 was the huge floods in Central Europe in May and June," the report said.
The floods, which claimed at least 23 lives, caused $ 22 billion in economic damage and $ 5.3 billion in insurance damage.
The April 20 earthquake in China, which killed about 200 people, is the second most costly natural disaster in six months, with economic damage of about $ 14 billion.
Droughts in Brazil and China and bad weather that caused several tornadoes in the United States also caused losses, according to the report.
Source: insurance.bg