Fire insurance claims estimated at $375m

Insurance claims from Australia's worsening bushfire crisis are estimated at $375 million.

The Insurance Council of Australia says insurers have received 5850 bushfire-related claims in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland since it declared a bushfire catastrophe on November 8.

But the council says the figures don't include properties lost over the past 24 to 36 hours in areas such as the NSW Southern Highlands and south coast.

Losses are estimated at $375 million, with a further $56 million in insured property losses in September and October.