Japan was struck by massive earthquake

The north-eastern coast of Honshu, Japan, was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake on Friday afternoon local time. The coastal region around the city of Sendai, roughly 300 km north of Tokyo, was hardest hit. According to first analyses, the impact in the greater Tokyo area was less significant.

Munich Re is looking into the effects of the quake and the resultant losses for the insurance industry. Since this analysis is very complex, it is far too early to provide any reliable statements regarding the insured losses and Munich Re’s loss burden from the quake.

You will find statistics from Munich Re’s NatCatSERVICE database on history’s most devastating earthquakes worldwide and in Japan at:

» NatCat Earthquake – Japan – March 2011 (PDF, 82 KB): http://www.munichre.com/app_pages/www/@res/pdf/media_relations/company_news/2011/natcat_earthquakes_japan_march2011_en.pdf

» NatCat Earthquake – World – March 2011 (PDF, 82 KB): http://www.munichre.com/app_pages/www/@res/pdf/media_relations/company_news/2011/natcat_earthquakes_world_march2011_en.pdf