© The Associated Press
Total insured losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters reached about $70 billion in the first half of this year, more than double the losses in the same period in 2010, according to estimates by the Zurich-based reinsurer.
The figure was only surpassed in 2005 after hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita caused claims of more than $90 billion, the world's second-biggest reinsurer said. Catastrophe claims usually increase in the second half of the year with the hurricane season in the North Atlantic and typhoons in the northwest Pacific.
