The Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies completed a survey of its member insurance companies to arrive at a preliminary estimate of losses caused by forest fires that broke out in Attica 19-20 July 2022: 19 July in Penteli and Anthousa and 20 July in Megara and Salamina.
According to European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) data, accessed and processed by the FLAME extreme fire weather and behaviour group at the National Observatory of Athens, the forest fires that occurred in July 2022 throughout Greece affected an area greater than 17,210 hectares, representing a 50% increase over the average for the period 2006-2021 (11,405.4 hectares). As regards the number of forest fires, EFFIS had mapped 38 incidents by Friday, 29 July 2022, with the average for the period 2006-2021 being 22.
In relation to the Penteli forest fire, it is estimated that approximately 2,035 hectares were affected, based on a high-resolution image obtained by the Landsat 9 satellite on Wednesday, 20 July 2022 at 12:05 local time (EET).
A total of 265 claims were filed with a provisional estimate for payouts of €5.99 million. Of these, 247 claims were for property insurance (estimated payout of €5.9 million), and 18 claims were for motor insurance (estimated at €83,000).
Henry Moazzo, chairman of HAIC’s Property, Reinsurance, Cargo & Hull Committee, commented:
“During the summer of 2022, Greece once again experienced destructive forest fires. Over the period 19-20 July, claims related to losses from the forest fires totalling €6 million were filed with insurance companies. These claims involved homes, and commercial and industrial premises, the insured value of which is estimated at €243 million. The average loss per home is estimated at €22,000.
This survey is part of the systematic recording of natural disasters affecting Greece and the related losses reported to the insurance market and is intended to provide information on the impacts of natural disasters and the contribution of private insurance. This was the 45th particularly severe natural disaster that we have recorded from 1993 to the present. In relation to these 45 incidents, 41,000 losses have been reported and compensation for these exceeds €523 million.”
