Chinese insurers had paid 334 million yuan (US$47.7 million) in claims from areas affected by the May 12 earthquake as of June 19, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission said on Monday.

The total included 190 million yuan in life insurance and 144 million yuan in property insurance.

As of June 19, the sector had accepted 249,000 claims.

The death toll from the May 12 earthquake amounted to 69,181 as of Sunday noon, the State Council Information Office said.

Another 374,171 people were injured and 18,522 remained missing after the 8.0-magnitude quake that hit Sichuan and neighboring regions.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2008)