NU Online News Service, June 8, 2:06 p.m.EDT

Two sets of storms in the U.S. and an earthquake and aftershocksin northern Italy top the list of catastrophes around the globe inMay, notes a report by Aon Benfield.

Regarding the U.S. storms, Aon Benfield says the first stretchof severe weather occurred early in the month, causing widespreadhail and wind damage from the Dakotas to Maryland. Aon Benfieldssays various insurers have recorded more than 30,000 claims withpayouts in excess of $150 million.

The second stretch of storms occurred at the end of the month,causing estimated insured losses of $400 million in Oklahoma alone,Aon Benfield says, citing figures from the Southwestern InsuranceInformation Service.

The quake and aftershocks in Italy caused “significant damage”in the provinces of Modena, Ferrara, Reggio Emilia, Rovigo andMantua, Aon Benfield says. More than 100 culturally historicbuildings sustained damage, and some economically significantbusinesses in the region were also affected. Economic losses areestimated at $6.25 billion.

Aon Benfield says it is too early to provide an insured-lossestimate with any degree of confidence, but catastrophe modelerEqecat says insured losses could be between $375 million and $875 million. Eqecat’sestimate is up dramatically from an initial insured-loss estimateof about $127 million, made before the aftershocks. The revision isdue to more losses from the aftershocks and an “updated insight oninsured values in the region,” says Eqecat.

Other global events throughout the month include flooding inChina, thundershorms in eastern Japan, excessive rainfall in theCanadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and wildfires in theU.S., including the largest fire ever recorded in New Mexico.