Flemish government and insurance companies fully reimburse water damages in mid-July | interior

From July 14 to 16, unprecedented floods swept Belgium. In Flanders, Limburg was particularly affected. Losses are estimated between 90 and 123 million euros. The Flemish government has now reached an agreement with the professional association Assuralia to ensure that all persons insured under the fire insurance contract are 100% compensated for damages.

In order to protect its solvency, the law establishes maximum limits for the intervention of insurance companies in the event of major natural disasters. But under the agreement, they will double their efforts to 44 million euros. Insurance companies are willing to contribute more than the insurance law requires. As a government, we cover the spread, so no one is left out in the open,” Gambon explains.

The remaining balance is covered by the Flemish Disaster Relief Fund. “Concretely, this would include between €49 and €79m,” says Dependael. “We also want to reduce the practical burden on the victims as much as possible by not having them knock on the doors of the various authorities, which is why the insurance sector will pre-finance the contribution of the Flemish region.”

Hein Lannoy, CEO of Assuralia, is also satisfied. It proves that the insurance industry does not shy away from its social responsibility. By joining forces with the Flemish government, we hope that the victims of the disaster will be able to recover quickly again.”

Applications can be submitted until the end of September for damages not covered by fire insurance. Jambon concludes that “the Flemish government is finalizing official recognition of the flood as a disaster, so that citizens, farmers and public institutions can report their damage, which is not covered by fire insurance, to the Flemish Disaster Fund.”

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