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EQECAT Initial Estimates Of Insured Losses From Typhoon Fitow Expected At About ¥50 Billion (Approximately US $500 Million)
September 7, 2007
Oakland, California
Typhoon Fitow has made landfall in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. Landfall was approximately 100 miles south and west of Tokyo, and maximum sustained winds at landfall were approximately 75 knots (88 miles per hour), a medium Category 1 storm.
Evaluations of this typhoon, based upon current meteorological information and analysis using the EQECAT Industry Exposure Database for Japan, produces a best estimate of the insured losses from this event to be around ¥50 billion (approximately US $500 million). Estimating loss levels for this type of lower intensity event span many uncertainties, and EQECAT expects that a credible range for insured losses to be less than ¥100 billion (approximately US $1 billion).
Specific uncertainties that are controlling the breadth of this range include:
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Relatively low wind speeds are expected through the area. The level of expected winds produce primarily incidental damage. However, regional- or micro- gusts can significantly increase the damage estimates.
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The area affected is a large metropolitan area. At its closest approach to Tokyo (Tokyo was about 30 miles from the 'center' of the storm) the maximum sustained winds still exceeded typhoon strength (sustained winds in excess of 65 knots.)
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There will be significant incidents of flooding damage from this event, especially since Fitow is still progressing along Honshu, with winds well below typhoon strength but bringing significant amounts of water and incipient loss exposure.
The above estimates of insured loss correspond to "economic" damage estimates approximately double the insured loss estimates (e.g., an expectation that economic damages will not exceed ¥200 billion). The bulk of the losses are expected to be to householder insurance.
EQECAT Representatives Available For Commentary
Representatives of EQECAT, headquartered in Oakland, will be available throughout this storm to provide commentary. For additional information, please contact Eric Samansky, The Samansky Group, at 516-319-0858.
EQECAT Serves Global Clients Through Extensive WORLDCATenterprise™
Through its user-friendly, extreme-risk modeling software, WORLDCATenterprise™, EQECAT enables clients to assess and manage potential damage and loss from wind, earthquakes, flood, wildfire, and terrorism, among other perils. WORLDCATenterprise™ includes 177 natural hazard software models for 89 countries spanning six continents.
EQECAT and its parent, ABSG Consulting Inc. (“ABS Consulting”), serve the global property and casualty insurance industry, major multinational corporations and financial institutions. EQECAT is known as the technical leader and innovator in the development of analysis tools and methodologies to quantify insurers’ and major corporations’ exposure to natural and man-made catastrophic risk.
EQECAT was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Oakland, California. For additional information, please log on to www.absconsulting.com and www.EQECAT.com.
For more information, contact:
Thomas Larsen
EQECAT, Inc.
1-510-817-3100 | tlarsen@eqecat.com
Eric R. Samansky
The Samansky Group
1-516-319-0858 | eric@samanskygroup.com
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