Strongest storm since 2007
“Zeynep” costs insurers one billion euros
2/19/2022, 6:07 p.m
Storm “Zeynep” causes top speeds and high damage for insurance companies in many European countries. After storm surges, fallen trees and torn house roofs, German insurers alone are likely to have to pay around 1.2 billion euros in the end.
According to expert estimates, winter storm “Zeynep” costs insurers in Germany around one billion euros. The storm that crossed the Federal Republic on Friday and Saturday was the most intense since “Kyrill” in 2007, said the actuaries (actuaries) of the Cologne consulting firm Meyerthole Siems Kohlruss (MSK).
“For Germany, we are assuming insured losses of over 900 million euros,” said MSK Managing Director Onnen Siems. The damage could also approach the 1.2 billion euros caused by the storm “Friederike” four years ago.
The highest wind speed was measured at 162 kilometers per hour at the “Alte Weser” lighthouse. In addition, “Zeynep” brought storm surges to the North Sea, and a very severe storm surge was also registered in Hamburg. The center of the storm field was in northern Germany.
In addition to Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium were particularly affected by the storm, which was internationally known as “Eunice”. In Great Britain, almost 200,000 households were still without power on Saturday, after 1.4 million households were meanwhile affected. A peak gust of 196 kilometers per hour was measured on the Isle of Wight – the strongest gust of wind ever measured in England.