Ciaran and Domingos storms: “120,000 compensation claims filed” at this stage, according to Bruno Le Maire

Fallen trees, torn roofs... In the west and north of France, losses linked to the passage of storms Ciaran and Domingos number in the hundreds of thousands. Guest on the BFMTV morning show this morning, Bruno Le Maire indicated that “120,000 claims for compensation” had been filed with the various insurers at this stage. “There are undoubtedly many requests that have not yet been made, because the electricity is cut off, the telephone has not yet been restored,” warns the minister. “We are going to have compensation claims that will amount to hundreds of millions of euros.” Figures, which although high, are “very far from the billions of the storm of 1999”, specifies the boss of Bercy.

Also read: Storm Ciaran: everything you need to know to get compensation from your insurer

The minister also wanted to reassure citizens affected by the damage. “Insurers have made commitments to provide rapid compensation, to extend the time limit for submitting a claim, everything is done to try to support policyholders,” he assured. During a trip to Brittany on Friday, President Emmanuel Macron promised to activate the state of natural disaster “wherever we can do it”. “For all places where there have been floods, there may be a regime of natural disasters,” confirmed the Ministry of the Economy.

Bruno Le Maire also took the opportunity to call on insurers to “keep their commitments”. “Axa has made two commitments: that prices increase less than the actual cost of claims and that special rates are offered to those on the lowest incomes and to those under 30,” recalled the minister. In the event of non-compliance with these commitments, Bercy “will provide transparency on prices”, he promised. Bruno Le Maire also announced that he had launched a ministerial mission to respond to the new challenges of insurance, in the light of global warming. The mission must report its conclusions “at the end of next year,” he said.