Property insurers shaken by quake

Wednesday, 27 February 2008 12:00 AM

Over 1,000 home insurance claims have already been made following Britain's most powerful earthquake for nearly 25 years.

Reports of structural damage close to the earthquake's epicentre near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire emerged this morning following the tremor, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, at around 01:00 GMT.

The strength may be moderate by global standards but is "relatively rare" for the UK, which experts say can expect to experience similar-scale earthquakes about once every ten or 20 years.

The tremor was felt as far south as London and was also reported in Yorkshire, Manchester and Norfolk.

Abbey Insurance says around 1,100 claims were received in the first 12 hours after the earthquake and has already dispatched loss-adjusters to the area.

British homeowners may be forgiven for not having policies covering earthquake damage, but Abbey Insurance director Tony Beckwith warns a failure to do so could be "staggering".

"Like the floods of 2007, it is hard to prepare your home for unexpected incidents like this morning's earthquake," he said.

"These incidents can dramatically affect the structural safety of a home, but with a good insurance policy that offers comprehensive protection for your property, your ability to recover from the unexpected will be a lot easier."

Meanwhile insurer Direct Line is urging householders to quickly check to establish whether their home has been affected by the quake by inspecting roof tiles, chimneys and walls.

One man, from Barnsley in south Yorkshire, was hospitalised as a result of damage to his property.

A chimney collapsed and fell through his bedroom roof, injuring his pelvis so badly he needed hospital treatment.

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