THE June weather bomb that caused extensive flooding in Wanganui and other parts of the lower North Island and the South Island's West Coast in June, cost insurers more than $50 million.
Tim Grafton, Insurance Council chief executive, said provisional figures show the lower North Island damage totalled $41.5 million and the West Coast damage a further $8.4 million. Mr Grafton said that so far weather events across the country this year had cost insurers $113 million.
The heavy rains and consequent flooding on June 20 and 21, generated more than 1700 claims from property owners in Wanganui, South Taranaki, Rangitikei, Horowhenua and Wairarapa.
Flooding in Wanganui and the lower North Island cost insurers more than $25 million for domestic claims, with more than 600 commercial and business interruption claims costing another $14 million. The remainder of claims was largely for motor vehicles at close to $1 million.
Several hundred people were evacuated from Wanganui East homes when floodwaters breached Whanganui River stopbanks. Some homes remain uninhabited with repair work still to be carried out.