LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Economic losses from natural and man-made catastrophes in 2007 were more than $70 billion, with insurers hit by claims amounting to $28 billion, according to research released on Tuesday by Swiss Re, the world's largest reinsurer.

Europe was hit hard by the Kyrill storm in January, which caused insured losses of $6.1 billion across Germany, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands.