EQECAT CatWatch Feed

Damaging M6.7 Main Shock and M6 Aftershocks in Philippines: Insured Losses Less than $100 Million

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:25:00 PDT

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurred in the Cebu region of the southern Philippines on February 6, 2012, followed by at least three aftershocks exceeding M5.5. Landslides, damage, and casualties have been reported. EQECAT estimates less than $100 million USD insured loss due to this event and economic loss approximately 10 times this amount. The earthquake was centered in the Negros Oriental province within the Visayas group of Islands, approximately 600km south-southeast of the Philippine capital of Manila. Little to no shaking was experienced in Manila.

Post-Tohoku Earthquake Probabilities for Tokyo

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00:00 PDT

EQECAT is aware of recent press citing a 70% chance that Tokyo will experience a M7 earthquake in the next four years, attributed to Japanese researcher Professor Naoshi Hirata of the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute (ERI). There are significant uncertainties associated with this probability.

M6.3 Earthquake in Ica, Peru: Insured Losses Little to None

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:25:00 PDT

An M6.3 earthquake occurred on January 30, 2012 near Ica, Peru near the southern end of the rupture area of the 2007 M8.0 earthquake. No fatalities are currently reported, but moderate damage to vulnerable structures has been reported in a localized region.

US Southeast Hit by Severe Convective Storm

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:15:00 PDT

A severe convective storm brought tornadoes, hail storms, and extreme wind events to the US southeast beginning Saturday afternoon and extending into Monday, January 23, 2012. Twenty-one tornado events were reported on Sunday in the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama, and extreme wind events extended beyond these states into Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia. Two tornadoes were reported on Monday, including reported injuries from a tornado near Greenville, AL. Many structures have been damaged but insured losses should remain well below $100 million.

M7.3 Off Sumatra Coast: Little to No Damage

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:30:00 PDT

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurred on January 11, 2012 (local time) off the coast of northern Sumatra. Today's quake is unlikely to have caused significant damage, primarily because it was centered 400 km offshore. Light shaking intensity was felt in the closest major city of Banda Aceh.

Tropical Cyclone Thane to Hit India’s Southeast Coast

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:50:00 PDT

Thane is the sixth storm and the first very severe cyclone of the 2011 North Indian Ocean basin cyclone season. Thane is about 100 nautical miles southeast of Chennai in the south-west Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall between Chennai and Nagapattinam along the Tamil Nadu coast as a severe cyclonic storm on Friday morning, December 30, local time. The direct impacts of the storm are expected along the Tamil Nadu coast.

Tropical Storm Washi Brings Fatal Mudslides to Philippines

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:50:00 PDT

Tropical Storm Washi made landfall on Mindanao Island (Philippines) near Bislig (8.1N, 121.5E) early December 17 and tracked westward across the island crossing directly over the town of Cagayan de Oro on the west coast. The maximum sustained winds at landfall were estimated 60 mph with gusts up to 80 mph and rainfall estimates from 8 to 10 inches on the east coast to 12 to 16 inches along the northwest coast. Devastating mudslides contributed to significant damage and fatalities, especially in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City, with up to 1,000 fatalities reported.

Bermuda Spared by Tropical Storm Sean

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:05:00 PDT

Tropical Storm Sean passed roughly 80 miles to the north-northwest of Bermuda early Friday, November 11, 2011. At the time of closest approach, around 6 to 7 am EST, the storm’s maximum wind speed was 60 mph, causing no significant damage to Bermuda.

Sean Could Become Weak Hurricane before Passing Bermuda Friday

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:55:00 PDT

Tropical Storm Sean is forecast to pass roughly 150 miles northwest of Bermuda early Friday, November 11, 2011 away from the US mainland. The National Hurricane Center is estimating a one-in-three chance that Sean could strengthen to a weak hurricane in the next 12 hours. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Bermuda.

Tropical Storm Sean Forms near Bermuda

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:40:00 PDT

Tropical Storm Sean, the 18th named system of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season, formed Monday night near Bermuda, and a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the island. Sean is not expected to make landfall on the US mainland.

M5.6 Oklahoma Quake Widely Felt; Damage Estimate Less than $100 Million

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:50:00 PDT

A M5.6 earthquake occurred Saturday, November 5, 2011 (local time) in central Oklahoma, preceded by a M4.7 foreshock and followed by several M4+ aftershocks. Limited damage has been reported in a localized region. EQECAT estimates insured losses from these events to be less than $100 million.

M6.9 Earthquake in Southwest Peru: Estimated Economic Damage less than $100 Million USD

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:05:00 PDT

A M6.9 earthquake occurred Friday, October 28, 2011 in southwest Peru. No fatalities are currently reported, but moderate damage to vulnerable structures has been reported in a localized region. EQECAT estimates little to no insured losses from this event and economic damage less than $100 million USD. More than 500,000 people perceived strong to very strong shaking (Modified Mercalli Intensity VI to VII).

Rina Weakens to Tropical Depression

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:30:00 PDT

Rina made landfall as a tropical storm near Paamul, Mexico late Thursday night (October 27, 2011) and has weakened to a tropical depression moving into the Yucatan Channel. Rina is not expected to pose any additional threat of landfall.

Rina Continues to Weaken, Heads to Yucatan Resorts

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:25:00 PDT

Rina, now a tropical storm, remains offshore of the Yucatan Coast about 70 miles south of Cozumel, Mexico. Rina is expected to continue to weaken as it moves closer to Cozumel and Cancun later today and early tomorrow morning. The National Hurricane Center estimates a very low probability that Rina will re-strengthen to a hurricane before passing the coastal resort areas. Storm surge and rainfall impacts are not expected to be significant.

Rina Weakens, Heads for Cancun and Cozumel

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:05:00 PDT

Rina has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum winds of 85 mph and continues to move slowly through the northwestern Caribbean toward the east coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. A gradual weakening trend is expected to continue today as disruptive vertical wind shear conditions are forecast to increase.

Cancun, Cozumel Threatened by Category 3 Rina; US Landfall Unlikely

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:45:00 PDT

Hurricane Rina is expected to become a major hurricane tonight (October 25, 2011) and make landfall along the Yucatan's east coast Wednesday night through Thursday as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm's strengthening is bolstered by high sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean.

Damaging M7.2 Earthquake in Eastern Turkey; Insured Losses $100 to $200 Million

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:50:00 PDT

A damaging M7.2 earthquake occurred Sunday, October 23, 2011 in eastern Turkey, and has been followed by several strong aftershocks that may have exacerbated damage caused by the main shock. Hundreds of fatalities have been reported, caused mainly by building collapses.

Hurricane Rina Forms in Northwestern Caribbean

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:55:00 PDT

Tropical Storm Rina, which formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea Sunday afternoon (October 23, 2011), has been upgraded to a hurricane and is expected to develop major hurricane intensity by Tuesday evening. This is the 17th named tropical system of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the sixth storm to achieve hurricane intensity.

Jova Hits Mexico's Southwest Coast

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:00:00 PDT

Jova made landfall on Mexico's southwestern coast as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum winds of 100 mph at 11 pm PDT Tuesday, October 12, 2011. The storm struck near the small town of Chamela, Jalisco, midway between Manzanillo and Cabo Corrientes (65 miles west-northwest of Manzanillo and 75 miles south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes). Following landfall, the storm quickly weakened, and later moved inland to the north-northeast with the maximum sustained winds dropping to 85 mph.

Jova to Hit Mexico's Southwest Coast; Irwin to Weaken

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:15:00 PDT

Jova remains a Category 3 hurricane and is expected to make landfall later today (October 11, 2011) just north of Manzanillo (Colima State) on Mexico's southwestern Pacific coast. Jova is expected to make landfall as a weak Category 3 or strong Category 2 storm with maximum winds of 100 to 120 mph. The states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, and Nayarit are expected to be impacted significantly by this hurricane.