Insurance claims soar from 'cyclonic' winds

详细摘要

More than 2700 insurance claims have been made after destructive winds and thunderstorms knocked out power to thousands.

Insurance claims have soared across a storm-hit region after winds compared to a category one cyclone uprooted hundreds of trees and damaged thousands of homes.

Insurers have received more than 2700 claims since supercells hit southeast Queensland and northern NSW on Wednesday which triggered flash flooding and forced the closure of roads and more than 20 schools.

Around 300 of the claims related to food spoilage as power was knocked out to 25,000 homes on Thursday.

Insurance Council of Australia said 2400 claims were lodged from Queensland.

The supercells dumped up to 100mm of rain on the region, with the SES receiving more than 300 calls for help, almost 240 of them in Logan, south of Brisbane.

Most were related to trees brought down by severe gusts that damaged homes and businesses, blocked roads and access to properties.

A storm knocked out another 600 households in Logan on Friday evening after more than 112,000 lightning strikes were recorded.

Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall urged policy holders to record damage and keep receipts for emergency repairs or temporary accommodation.

"Whether a home has been badly damaged or a family has lost power and a fridge full of food, every household affected by these storms is dealing with real cost and stress," he said.

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