NSW: Insurance bill for bushfires at least $20 million

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2001
NSW: Insurance bill for bushfires at least $20 million

Insurance assessors are out inspecting fire damaged houses in New South Wales -- expecting
claims of tens of millions of dollars.

The Insurance Council of Australia says $20 million would be a conservative estimate
for the more than 150 homes destroyed by bushfires in the past few days.

The Council says the insurance bill for the 1994 bushfires was $56 million, with 200
homes destroyed and 200 damaged.

It says claims are already flooding in -- and anyone who is insured will be covered
-- but about one in five homes is likely to have been uninsured.

Meanwhile NRMA Insurance is urging customers to contact them as quickly as possible
so it can process claims faster and offer emergency assistance.

AAP RTV rk/arb/ge

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW (SYDNEY)

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