Kaikoura quake claims surpass $650 million

Massive cracks made the roads impassable at the top of the Hunderlee Hills on Highway 1, Canterbury, after the 7.5-magnitude Kaikoura earthquake./ NigelSpiers/Shutterstock Inc.

The Insurance Council of New Zealand said that business insurance claims related to the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake have crossed $900 million New Zealand ($658 million), Stuff.co.nz reports.

"It is early days and the figures may change but indications are that there are more than 2,500 commercial material damage claims," said Tim Grafton, CEO of the council. Two thirds of the total claims came from the Wellington region.
 
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