Middle East: Winter storm caused US$100 mln in economic losses
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Mar 2015
Economic losses caused by January’s powerful winter storm which hit several territories in the Middle East have totalled US$100 million, according to a report by Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development unit.
Parts of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria registered heavy snow and bitter cold temperatures during the storm, which killed at least nine people. Hundreds of cars were damaged in accidents.
The storm, dubbed “Huda” or “Zina”, caused widespread disruption to transport as roads and airports. Several ports throughout the region were closed. Many authorities declared a state of emergency.
The storm dumped rain and hail on Lebanon’s coast and heavy snows in the mountains and central Bekaa Valley, closing gas stations, banks, schools and most shops, reported Al Arabiya. In Syria, snow brought traffic to a near standstill in the capital, Damascus, and prompted the Education Ministry to shutter school and universities for two days. Schools and government offices were also closed for at least a day in Jordan.
Last year’s winter’s storm Alexa affected Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestinian terroritories, Syria and Turkey. Media in Egypt reported that the snowfall brought by Alexa was the first in 112 years.