Insurance companies in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will pay 30.74 million yuan (US$4.52 million) to the injured and those who lost property and loved ones in the July 5 riot in Urumqi, local insurance regulators said on Friday.

The insurance companies have received 184 claims on life and medical policies, which could total 3.65 million yuan (US$536,700), said officials of the Xinjiang bureau of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC).

Of the total, 970,000 yuan (US$142,600) has been paid out, said bureau officials who refused to give any details.

Insurance companies have also received claims for 106 burnt and 1,030 vandalized vehicles, with the estimated amount exceeding 16.2 million yuan (US$2.4 million).

Claims on other property losses are estimated at 10.84 million yuan (US$1.6 million).

According to the local Morning Post newspaper, the CIRC Xinjiang bureau has asked the region's 11 property and 10 life insurance companies to spare no efforts in helping the government deal with the aftermath of the riot, which left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 injured.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2009)