Hailstorms cost insurance sector €340 m in claims

Insurance companies look set to pay out a total of €340 million in compensation to around 142,600 customers following the hailstorms that rained down on Belgium during the Pentecost holiday weekend, announced the insurance federation Assuralia.

According to the insurance sector federation’s first estimates 15 days after the storms, more than 55,000 claims will be made for vehicules damaged by the hail. Insurance companies expect to pay out €126 million in compensation to cover the damage.

A further 87,220 claims by individuals and small businesses will be filed for damage to property caused by the storms – or €214 million in compensation.

“From Wingene to Saint-Hubert, hail and wind caused widespread damage across the entire country,” stated Assuralia. “To illustrate how extensive that damage was, take a look at what happened in summer 2011 following bad weather then. After that, the insurance sector dealt with 58,000 insurance claims. Today, it’s looking at more than 142,600 claims totalling €340 million.”