California wildfire was world's costliest natural disaster in 2018, insurer says (original) (raw)

The Camp Fire, which killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes, caused $16.5 billion in damage, most of it uninsured

A burned neighborhood after the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Nov. 15, 2018.Josh Edelson / AFP - Getty Images file

Jan. 8, 2019, 10:06 PM UTC

BERLIN — German insurance company Munich Re says the Northern California wildfire that killed dozens of people and burned down the town of Paradise was the world's costliest single natural disaster in 2018.

The reinsurance giant said the Camp Fire in November caused overall losses of 16.5billion.Thecompanysaidsome16.5 billion. The company said some 16.5billion.Thecompanysaidsome12.5 billion in losses were insured.

The firestorm destroyed thousands of homes and other structures.

Munich Re said losses from all natural disasters reached 160billionlastyear,abovetheinflation−adjustedaverageof160 billion last year, above the inflation-adjusted average of 160billionlastyear,abovetheinflation−adjustedaverageof140 billion for the last 30 years but below 2017's hurricane-driven high of $350 billion.

Board member Torsten Jeworrek said increasing wildfires in California appear linked to climate change.

He was quoted saying that "action is urgently needed on building codes and land use to help prevent losses."