Industrial risk could run into 'tens of million', says AXA boss

The Japanese earthquake will cost AXA at least €100m (£88m) before tax, chief executive Henri de Castries told French television on Sunday.

AXA has yet to fully pin down its exposure to the catastrophe - which has killed more than 10,000 people so far - because the death toll may rise further, he added.

"We estimate it should cost us slightly more than 100 million euros before tax, where losses of life and injuries are concerned, and in the tens of millions in terms of industrial risk," de Castries said in an interview with LCI television.

The earthquake on March 11 was followed by a powerful tsunami that devastated northeast Japan.

The Japanese government has estimated the total damage to roads, homes, factories and other infrastructure at around $200-310bn, or up to 6% of Japan's GDP, making it the world's costliest disaster, Reuters reported.