The Blatten landslide in the Lötschental valley in Valais on May 28 and the resulting flooding caused damage amounting to CHF 320 million. Around 260 million francs of this relates to damage to buildings and household contents, as the Swiss Insurance Association (SIA) wrote in a press release on Tuesday.

In most cases, these would be total losses caused either directly by the rockfall or by the subsequent flooding. The estimate was determined by the Swiss Natural Disaster Pool. The first payouts have already been made, according to the statement.

Private insurers have paid out a further 60 million francs for insured losses from business interruption and to motor vehicles.

These benefits from supplementary insurance policies are not subject to the legally defined natural hazard insurance and would therefore not be compensated via the natural hazard pool, the statement continued.

Extended Reconstruction Period

The affected population in Blatten is assured of rapid and unbureaucratic support from the private insurers. In most cases, detailed proof of damage will not be required in order to help those affected quickly and easily. In the event of total damage to buildings caused by rockfall or flooding, an advance payment of 75 percent of the insured sum under the policy is typically provided, minus the contractually agreed deductible.

The remaining 25 percent of the sum insured is usually paid out if the property is rebuilt within two years. This period will be extended to five years and payment will be made if a reconstruction or reinvestment in a property with the same purpose takes place within the canton of Valais. «This is intended to give the insured persons affected time to await decisions by the authorities on the reconstruction of Blatten and to weigh up their situation individually,» says Eduard Held, Managing Director of the Natural Disaster Pool.

Above-Average Damage Load this Year

Blatten is therefore comparable in terms of the extent of damage to the hailstorms in Locarno in 2023. Damage of more than 300 million Swiss francs was caused there within a short space of time. «It is already clear that 2025 will go down in the history of the natural hazard pool as a year with an above-average claims burden», writes the SIA.