Chinese insurers had paid 327 million yuan (US$46.7 million) in claims from areas affected by the May 12 earthquake as of June 18, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission said on Friday.

The total included 184 million yuan in life insurance and 143 million yuan in property insurance.

As of June 18, the sector had accepted 249,000 claims.

The death toll from the May 12 earthquake amounted to 69,180 as of Thursday noon, the State Council Information Office said.

Another 374,008 people were injured and 17,406 remained missing after the 8.0-magnitude quake that hit Sichuan and neighboring regions.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2008)