FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) – Insurance claims for flood damagein Germany may be as much as 6 billion euros ($8 billion),catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide said on Thursday, afterthe worst flooding in a decade.

Heavy rainfall in late May and early June drenched Germany,Austria and the Czech Republic in particular, causing widespreadflooding, and also affected Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia andPoland, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes.

“Floodwaters hit Germany hardest,” Yorn Tatge, managing directorof Air Worldwide in Germany, said in a statement.

“While the worst damage has already occurred, this flood eventis ongoing,” AIR Worldwide said, noting that overall, non-insureddamage to the economy would be much higher.

Germany on Wednesday agreed the financing of an 8-billion-eurofund to help repair damage, with both the federal government andstates footing the bill.

Catastrophe modelling firms use computers to cross-referencedata on insured values with geographical, construction andmeteorological information.

AIR Worldwide's loss estimate is the highest of rising lossforecasts. Credit rating agency Fitch said on June 11 that insuredlosses could be up to 3 billion euros in Germany.

Insurance broker Willis estimated claims of 4 billion euros inEurope.

A number of insurers have estimated their own share of thedamage, after the flood waters began to recede and insuranceadjusters were able to inspect homes and businesses.

Europe's biggest insurer, Allianz, saw its share at 500 millioneuros, before passing some of the claims on to reinsurers.

Talanx expected a hit of less than 250 million euros, includingclaims facing its reinsurance unit, Hannover Re .

Italy's Generali sees 100 million euros in claims.

The world's biggest reinsurer, Munich Re, on Thursday declinedto comment on the AIR Worldwide estimate and said it was still tooearly to provide its own figure.