BERLIN/SAARBRÜCKEN/MAINZ (dpa-AFX) - Following the storms at Whitsun with flooding in Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, the German Insurance Association (GDV) is expecting insured losses of around 200 million euros. This figure includes damage to buildings and motor vehicles, GDV Managing Director Jorg Asmussen announced on Friday in an initial preliminary loss balance for the insurance industry.

According to GDV, 46 percent of people in Rhineland-Palatinate and 47 percent in Saarland have taken out insurance against natural hazards such as heavy rain and flooding.

In addition to the insured damage to residential buildings or household contents recorded here, there was also damage to infrastructure such as bridges and roads. Over the Whitsun weekend, people in Saarland and the south-west of Rhineland-Palatinate in particular battled against high water and flooding. Enormous amounts of rain caused flooding, landslides and overflowing streets and cellars./rtt/DP/ngu