BTA: The number of insurance claims for hail and storm damages rockets; total amount nearing 100 thousand euros

The wild storm, carrying pouring rain and huge hailstones, has inflicted massive damages – as much as 70 insurance claims for nearly 100 thousand euros have already been submitted, according to BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (BTA) data summary.

“Hailstones have inflicted considerable damage to a lot of cars – a few dozen CASCO insurance claims have been received, and their number keeps rising with each passing minute. Several of them were reported from Garkalne municipality and Upesciems, where record size hailstones were spotted, although another factor of importance was the lightning strikes,” describes the situation BTA Insurance Claims Handling Department Director Kārlis Liepiņš.

The largest insurance claims for losses due to storm – respectively 3000 euros and 1700 euros – were received for a tractor’s windshield damaged by a lightning strike at Dobele municipality and damages to a house roof at Bauska municipality Brunava rural municipality. Insurance claims for hail damages to a car is an average of 1200 euros, with car bodies taking the heaviest damage. 

“Highly dangerous in these stormy days also been lightning strikes. For instance, a tractor was moving on a road in Dobele municipality Annenieki rural municipality, when struck by lightning. The outcome – damaged windshield and inflicted covert damages, resulting in insurance claim for 3000 euros,” says K. Liepiņš.

A couple of thousand lightning flashes were registered during the storm in the country. Hail was present in many places, at some locations – even ice blocks of several centimetres; flooded streets and lower terrain spots, according to data of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.

Most reports of a large-grain hail were received from the eastern part of Riga City, as well as its adjacent municipalities of Stopiņi, Garkalne and Ādaži. Riga City and its metropolitan area also accounted for the largest number of lightning observations. The State Firefighting and Rescue Service has received a total of 40 calls concerning trees fallen by the strong wind and storm damages, among them 19 in Riga region and 15 in Vidzeme region.

According to weather forecasts, thunderstorms with heavy rains, storms and massive hail are possible in Latgale, Sēlija and the eastern and central parts of Vidzeme on June 9 as well. The European Storm Forecast Experiment (Estofex) predicts that the highest risk of the Tuesday's thunderstorms will be the huge hail and storm, including possible whirlwinds. The occurrence of large-grain hail and whirlwinds is likely only at some places, although heavy rain and wind – in a wider area.

Rain is expected in most parts of the country, with heavy rains at some places. No significant precipitation is expected in Kurzeme. Mostly slow northern wind. The air temperature will rise to +15.. + 22 degrees centigrade, in the eastern part of the country – to +24 .. +29 degrees centigrade.

BTA urges to insure one’s property against such risks and exercise caution during storm, avoid parking cars beneath trees and timely checking whether windows, roofs and other parts of buildings are fastened and secured.

About BTA

BTA Baltic Insurance Company is one of the leading insurance companies in the Baltics, offering the broadest range of non-life insurance services in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. BTA employs more than 1,000 employees in the Baltics. The largest shareholder of BTA is Vienna Insurance Group AG with close to 200 years of experience in the insurance business. With about 50 companies in 25 countries and more than 25,000 employees, Vienna Insurance Group is a clear market leader in its CEE markets. Vienna Insurance Group is the best-rated company of ATX, the leading index of Vienna Stock Exchange with a rating of A+ with stable outlook from Standard & Poor’s; its share is also listed on the Prague Stock Exchange.

Additional information:

Elīna Rasmane

Marketing and Public Relations Department Director

BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS

e-mail elina.rasmane@bta.lv