Natural catastrophes dominate the 20 largest insured losses.
Insured
Date Catastrophe Country damages*
August 1992 Hurricane Andrew U.S. $17.95 billion
January 1994 Northridge earthquake U.S. $13.28 billion
September 1991 Typhoon Mireille Japan $6.42 billion
January 1990 Winter storms Europe $5.53 billion
September 1989 Hurricane Hugo U.S. $5.33 billion
October 1987 Autumn windstorm Europe $4.15 billion
February 1990 Winter storm Europe $3.84 billion
July 1988 Piper Alpha explosion U.K. $2.66 billion
January 1995 Hanshin earthquake Japan $2.55 billion
October 1995 Hurricane Opal U.S. $2.17 billion
March 1993 Winter storm U.S. $1.91 billion
September 1992 Hurricane Iniki U.S. $1.80 billion
October 1989 Phillips explosion U.S. $1.68 billion
September 1979 Hurricane Frederic U.S. $1.63 billion
September 1996 Hurricane Fran U.S. $1.60 billion
September 1974 Hurricane Fifi Honduras $1.60 billion
September 1988 Hurricane Gilbert Jamaica $1.48 billion
December 1983 Winter storms U.S. $1.39 billion
October 1991 Oakland fires U.S. $1.39 billion
April 1974 Tornadoes U.S. $1.37 billion
* Losses in 1996 dollars