Hailstorm causes nearly billion francs in private insurance claims

Private insurers estimate that the severe hail and storm event in Switzerland at the end of August caused almost one billion Swiss francs in damage, SRF reports. More than 80 per cent of the estimated total relates to hail-damaged cars.

A powerful thunderstorm cell travelled on the morning of August 28 from the Jura arc across the Swiss Plateau to eastern Switzerland. Hailstones the size of golf balls and powerful wind gusts caused the damage, according to the Swiss Insurance Association.

More than 100,000 vehicles were affected. Around 10 per cent of the estimated total concerns natural hazard damage covered by the Swiss Natural Hazards Pool, which includes the main private insurers operating in Switzerland. The remaining damage involves other types of insurance, including business interruption and supplementary policies.

Damage to buildings is not included in the estimate. It is covered by cantonal building insurers, except in seven cantons where private insurers provide this coverage. Most of the affected cantons have a cantonal monopoly insurer, and separate figures for building damage are not yet available.

The privately insured damage from the storm is twice as high as that caused by the previous major hail event, which struck Ticino in August 2023. Bern, Solothurn, Aargau, Zurich and Thurgau were particularly affected. Several people were injured by falling trees and hailstones, including one woman who was seriously injured in the canton of Solothurn.