Recent severe weather in Queensland has prompted 21,850 claims, the Insurance Council of Australia says. 

A hailstorm in the Brisbane area on October 26 – declared a significant insurance event – has produced 19,300 claims so far, the industry body tells insuranceNEWS.com.au. 

A further 2550 claims have been lodged after more bad weather hit southeast Queensland from Friday.  

Hailstones of up to 9cm – described as ‘humungous’ by the Bureau of Meteorology – struck in the Southern Downs region, smashing roofs and cars. 

Parts of Toowoomba and South Burnett were worst hit amid widespread power outages, and emergency services received calls for help from Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, the Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, the Redlands and the Sunshine Coast. Many requests concerned damaged or leaking roofs.  

Queensland premier David Crisafulli says storms in the Bundaberg region damaged crop netting and irrigation equipment, plus fruit and vegetables. 

IAG had received more than 4900 claims across its brands by Friday.  

EGM of claims Luke Gallagher says an NRMA Insurance team is at the Jindalee Golf Club to help customers lodge claims, and specialist hail repairers are triaging car damage. 

“Our on-the-ground response teams are on standby to mobilise and support impacted customers,” he said.