As bushfires continue to rage across New South Wales and Queensland the Insurance Council of Australia has announced estimated industry losses of AU $115 million (US$78 million).
Credit: EPA
Blazes across the two eastern states have so far destroyed more than 500 houses and blanketed Sydney in bushfire smoke, prompting dozens of calls to paramedics for related health problems.
Officials have warned that forecast weather had the potential to intensify existing blazes. Western Australia was also issued catastrophic alerts in the past week.
Fires in the south of Australia have caused emergency warnings to be issued as temperatures in some parts neared 45C (113F) and strong winds reached up to 90km/h (55mph).
Officials switched off electricity to about 10,000 homes and businesses to reduce the risk of new fires.
The ICA’s recent $115 million loss estimate stems from 1107 claims and has risen significantly from the AU $50 million announced just last week.
The bushfires in Australia are thought to have been triggered by extremely dry conditions in the affected areas, although the Government has declined to comment on climate change’s possible effect on the outbreak.
