China’s banking and insurance regulator said on Thursday that it will guide insurers to increase investment in natural disaster insurance and enrich product offerings.
It also plans to raise public awareness of risks, to let natural disaster insurance play a greater role in national emergency response, the China’s Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) said in a statement sent to Reuters.
At least 73 people have died in China’s flood-stricken central province of Henan, official data showed, leaving rail and road links disrupted, goods ranging from cars and electronics damaged, thousands of livestock killed.
Chinese insurers have received a total 376,200 claims relating to the Henan floods as of July 26, the CBIRC said, and the total payouts so far reached 492 million yuan.
“Natural disaster risks such as earthquakes, typhoons and floods affected people the most, and it’s our people who bear the most direct losses,” the CBIRC said.
More products are needed in the area as to “better satisfy people’s diversified needs to insure risks,” it said. (Reporting by Cheng Leng and Tony Munroe; Editing by Louise Heavens)



Executive Viewpoint: Why Insurers Are Struggling to Keep Pace With Risk
Executive Viewpoint: How AI Is Changing the Role of the Insurance Broker
‘Alarming’ High Flood Risk for 17M Along Atlantic, Gulf Coasts: Study
100-Year Hurricane in NYC Could Cost Insurers More Than $100B: KCC 