Bavaria raises flood relief funds to 200 million.
Recent heavy floods in South Germany claimed four lives in Bavaria, with over two dozen others injured and two people still missing. Accumulated insurance damages are estimated to be around two billion euros, the German Association of the Insurance Industry (GDV) reported.
Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder has renewed his plea for federal support. Together with his counterpart from Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), he sent a joint letter to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Söder stressed the need for the government to keep its promise of assistance.
As the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg bore the brunt of the South Flood, the two leaders demand the same level of support as in previous cases. They're also pushing for the implementation of mandatory natural disaster insurance.
Mandatory natural disaster insurance safeguards policyholders against damage caused by nature, including hail, storms with a wind force of eight or more, flooding, earthquakes, landslides, or snow pressure. Per GDV data, more than half of the private households in Germany have such coverage.
High-level talks between the federal government and the states are arranged for June 20th. Free Democrats (FDP) within the traffic light coalition express reservations about the proposed compulsory insurance requirement.
