Chinese insurers had paid 370 million yuan (US$48.1 million) in claims from areas affected by the May 12 earthquake as of June 24, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission said on Thursday.

The total included 196 million yuan in life insurance claims and 174 million yuan in property insurance.

As of June 24, the sector had accepted about 249,000 claims.

The death toll stood at 69,185 as of Thursday noon, the State Council Information Office said. Another 374,174 people were injured and 18,457 were still officially listed as missing.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2008)