The insurance sector has already paid 41% of claims related to damages caused by the series of storms that hit the country between January and February, totaling over 260 million euros. The figure was revealed this Thursday, the 26th, by the Portuguese Association of Insurers (APS), which revised its estimate of the total amount of compensable claims upwards to one billion euros. This significant update is due to the fact that claims continued to arrive throughout March, even though the storm damage occurred between January 27 and February 13. Specifically, there were over a thousand claims per day in March. About 180,000 claims were registered by March 20, forcing insurers to close cases at a rate of 1,500 per day, according to the APS. Of that total, more than 75,000 have already received payments or advances. Housing damage accounts for the lion's share of claims, reaching 150,000 and representing 442 million euros in compensation. However, the largest share of funds, 443 million euros, is allocated to the repair and recovery of businesses, shops, and construction sites. For the 12,000 cases where car insurance was triggered, compensation amounts to 34 million euros. The APS explains that many other claims are accepted but pending payment due to external factors, such as waiting for final quotes, proof of ownership, IBAN details, or the completion of repairs and invoicing. Some cases are also delayed by third-party interventions, such as co-ownership issues or mortgage creditor involvement. The APS notes that the exceptional volume and complexity of the claims make the analysis process more demanding, but the sector remains committed to streamlining procedures and providing advances on final payments.