An 8.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan today, triggering a massive tsunami, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency.

It is too early to assess total damage, although early reports state the tsunami caused widespread damage in the Miyagi and Fukushima regions, killing at least 200 people and sweeping away homes, cars, and boats.

A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the state of Hawaii. Businesses, particularly those that operate in vulnerable regions of the world, must ensure they have the plans and experienced personnel in place to mitigate the potential impacts of a natural disaster and return to normal operations as quickly as possible.

Preparing for a Claim

As an immediate response to insurance needs, Marsh clients may consider making careful preparations for claims that properly quantify the extent of loss and damage under their property and business interruption policies.

Marsh advises that clients should also be prepared for potential added effects from the earthquake, including supply chain disruptions, which could delay the return to normal business conditions.

Next Steps

Clients may refer to Marsh's Disaster Recovery Portal for regular updates and Marsh specialists' contact information. Marsh has also set up a hotline where clients may direct insurance questions and notify a potential claim.

Marsh’s local dedicated claims team and client executives have been mobilized to support our clients in their business recovery.

For real-time research and forecasts of natural catastrophes, please refer to Guy Carpenter's Cat Central bulletins.

For more information, please contact us at: contact@marsh.com.