WASHINGTON, Sept 23: Hurricane Rita is likely to cause insured losses of between nine billion and 18 billion dollars from wind damage, a consulting firm said on Friday, while noting that the estimate may be revised.

Equecat said its preliminary estimate was based on the storm maintaining category three or four hurricane force and striking land somewhere between Port Arthur and Orange, Texas.

“However, hurricanes often make dramatic and unexpected changes in direction and intensity as they move toward land,” Equecat said.

“The actual intensity, and forward speed at landfall, coupled with the population and structural density at the landfall site, among other factors, can result in significant changes in assessments of preliminary estimated damage.”—AFP