Even after the August earthquake, the number of coverage dwellings is almost the same. Civil Code only speaks of fires.
The number of dwelling com Seismic coverage em Portugal it is 19%, The same value at the time of August, since the growth has been residual since then, according to the Portuguese Association of Insurers.
On Monday a magnitude earthquake was recorded on the Richter scale with epicenter about 14 kilometers west of Seixal, in the Setúbal district. Last year, on August 26, there had been an earthquake of occurred west of Sines.
Lusa has questioned APS about whether increased seismic phenomena coverage since last August earthquake, and the official source said that “the variation in the number of seismic coverage dwellings in the last six months is residual”.
Last November, the insurance regulator (ASF – insurance supervision and pension fund authority) announced that he was going to deliver to the government soon proposals for the creation of a protection mechanism against seismic risks.
Lusa questioned the ASF about the proposal has already been delivered or when it will be, but so far has not been reply.
The intention to create a seismic risk fund has decades. Already in 2010, the government (PS, by José Sócrates) presented a legislative draft for the creation of this fund in public consultation, but did not follow followed by the crisis.
In April 2022, in an interview with Lusa, the president of APS, José Galamba de Oliveira, argued that it becomes mandatory to hire seismic risk insurance coverage, when there is already a fire, estimating a cost of 25 to 75 euros of an annual prizedepending on the regions of the country and the type of construction.
José Galamba de Oliveira recalled that this is also a concern of the banking sector, as many dwellings are given as guarantees, mortgaged in housing credit.
“Our country has a Great exposure to seismic risk It has basically three zones – the Lisbon and Tagus and Algarve Valley Zone that is considered risky zone, then we have the whole area of the coast and then we have the rest of the country that has lower seismic exposure. Obviously, at the time of calculating prizes for those who have such coverage is also different the area where it is, as well as the type of construction, ”he said at the time.
“Just to get an idea of what we are talking about, for an average capital in Portugal of 150 thousand euros At the cost of reconstruction, we are talking about a prize that can go from 25 euros per year to 75 euros per year. We are talking about Two euros per monthwhich is not a prohibitive thing, although we are aware that for some families this may also be a problem and could also be seen with the government some social support scheme or social insurance for such situations, ”he said.
In 2023, APS released a Swiss RE study that Portugal is the most exposed seismic risk exposed Europe (including in front of Italy). The biggest risk in mainland Portugal is in Lisbon and Algarve.
Also in Portugal, the Azores have a high seismic activity.
Also according to APS, in a severe event, such as the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the losses could reach 20% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Condominiums
APEGAC, Portuguese Association of Managers and Administrators of Condominiums, warns that There is usually no seismic risks coverage in the insurance of buildings of condominiums.
Article 1429 of the Civil Code indicates that insurance against the risk of fire of the building. But just that risk. There is no reference to earthquakes.
In a statement sent to ZAP, APEGAC considers that this article should be changed because it is not in accordance with the current constructive reality and the sinister existing in other areas: storm, flooding, water damage, pipe bundling, among others.
And leaves one Notice: insurance multirriscos “Stock” most of the 5 million Portuguese living in a condominium. But this insurance Don’t cover everything.
On the contrary: “In most insurers, they have a range of base coverage very small, Like the fire, storms, floods and little more, ”says the statement.
APEGAC warns that the bursting of pipes, aesthetic damage, electrical risks, among others, may not be part of the base coverage of these multi -tasks insurance.
E There is usually no coverage against the earthquakes – It has a high rate and burden the insurance a lot.
So, and even knowing it is most expensive For each family, the Association advises hiring multirrisks with the coverage of seismic phenomena.
In more than 3 million family dwellings, less than 500,000 hired the coverage of seismic phenomena. And buildings built until the decade 1980 They are not prepared for larger shaking.