Slide1: Tsunami risk in South Asia Dale Dominey-Howes Macquarie University Sydney, Australia


Slide2: Structure of the presentation Short context Outline relative global risk Explore risk in the Asia-Pacific region – frequency-magnitude Recommendations for the industry Global Conference on Insurance and Reinsurance for Natural Catastrophe Risk


Slide3: Introduction and context We now know what tsunami are They are generated in four separate ways Tsunami magnitude is a measure of wave height at shore Tsunami intensity is a measure of wave effect Tsunami have dramatic effects on human and environmental systems Remainder of this talk will outline relative global risk before summarising risk in the Asia-Pacific region Global Conference on Insurance and Reinsurance for Natural Catastrophe Risk


Slide4: Causes Global Conference on Insurance and Reinsurance for Natural Catastrophe Risk


Slide5: Tsunami Magnitude Tsunami intensity? Global Conference on Insurance and Reinsurance for Natural Catastrophe Risk


Slide6: Magnitude data across the globe Analysis for specific “Cresta zones” www.nerc-bas.ac.uk/tsunami-risks/index.html


Slide7: Economic and insurance costs UN estimate of rebuild costs – US$10 – 12.5 bn As of April 2005, insured losses estimated at US$2.5 – 4 bn Major insurers / reinsurers reporting relatively low losses Insurance losses remarkably light – low wealth areas with little (catastrophe) insurance Little domestic property and business insurance Affected multiple classes: Life and health Buildings, contents and infrastructure Business interruption loss Travel Motor Marine etc Global Conference on Insurance and Reinsurance for Natural Catastrophe Risk


Slide8: http://www.nerc-bas.ac.uk/tsunami-risks/index.html Relative Global Risk – historic distribution


Slide9: Large tsunami: = 6:100 years! Two on-line catalogues: Russian catalogue from 1628 BC – 2,200 events American catalogue from 49 BC – over 2,000 events Relative Global Risk


Slide10: Tsunami risk in the Asia-Pacific region (After Gusiakov, 2005)


Slide11: Efficiency of tsunami generation Global Conference on Insurance and Reinsurance for Natural Catastrophe Risk


Slide12: Tsunami Risk in South Asia? Global Conference on Insurance and Reinsurance for Natural Catastrophe Risk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake Tsunamigenic zones? Past tsunami events? Frequency – magnitude? Future risk? IO Warning System and public awareness and mitigation techniques


Slide13: Recommendations for the insurance / reinsurance industry Fundamental research on documentary and geological record of tsunami


Slide14: Recommendations for the insurance / reinsurance industry Use of improved records of tsunami to examine frequency-recurrence and magnitude estimates for at risk areas


Slide15: Recommendations for the insurance / reinsurance industry Development and application of tsunami vulnerability assessment frameworks and the development of appropriate building code standards and best practice design


Slide16: Recommendations for the insurance / reinsurance industry Reassessment of insurance asset exposure to tsunami loss and careful pricing of premiums to accurately take account of potential tsunami losses


Slide17: Recommendations for the insurance / reinsurance industry Increased collaboration between relevant stakeholders to improve community education and to promote risk reduction measures


Slide18: Acknowledgements Organisers for invitation to make this presentation Thanks to Aon Re Australia Ltd for their support in to research in to tsunami Any questions? Global Conference on Insurance and Reinsurance for Natural Catastrophe Risk