One year later, majority of claims from 6.2-magnitude New Zealand earthquake now paid

A year after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the lower North Island of New Zealand, the country’s Earthquake Commission has said that the majority of claims – amounting to $8.2 million – have been paid.

The Earthquake Commission received 5,240 damage claims from the quake that hit on Jan. 20, 2014, 15km east of the town of Eketahuna.

“EQC staff have been working hard to settle claims arising from the Eketahuna earthquake and I’m really pleased that we have completed the majority, with 86% of claims resolved so far,” Gail Kettle, general manager of customer and claims for the Earthquake Commission said in a statement Tuesday.

Most claims received were for damage to buildings only (72%), followed by building and contents (11%); contents only (9%); building and land (5%); land only (2%), and building, contents and land (1%).