Over 100,000 claims submitted to insurers due to bad weather
More than 100,000 claims have been submitted to insurers following the bad weather affecting Portugal, the Portuguese Insurance Association (APS) revealed on Saturday (14). According to the association, 'over 100,000 claims have been reported, half of which were communicated just in the last week.' The APS added that about 75% of the cases have already undergone initial assessment, advance payment, or total or partial payment, or are awaiting documentation for completion. Cases still without assessment are mainly due to 'access issues to locations, flooded or blocked roads, or claims made very recently.' The association emphasizes that insurers have been on the ground 'since the first hour of January 28,' with multidisciplinary teams including 'hundreds of experts, supporting their clients in close collaboration with the affected municipalities.' The commitment made to the government to carry out 80% of assessments within 15 days of the claim 'is being fully met — and even exceeded,' the APS also stated. During a visit to Alcácer do Sal, one of the municipalities most affected by the floods, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa mentioned that he spoke with the association's president and that, so far, 'about 100,000 claims had been received, of which 12,000 have been processed.' The storms Kristin, Leonardo, and Marta caused 16 deaths, hundreds of injuries, and significant material damage, especially in the Central, Lisbon, Tejo Valley, and Alentejo regions. The government has extended the state of calamity until Sunday in 68 municipalities and announced support of up to 2.5 billion euros.
