Nearly $3m Southland quake claims

The value of claims from last week's big Southland earthquake has reached almost $3 million but could double by the end of the 30-day claim period.

The magnitude 7.8 quake struck Fiordland on July 15 and was felt across the country.

As of yesterday, 1560 individual claims had been lodged with the Earthquake Commission, with 541 of them coming from Invercargill.

Commission insurance manager Lance Dixon said the estimated cost of claims to date was $2.88 million.

That could double by the time the 30-day deadline for claims is reached, he said.

Claims had been coming in at about 250 a day and were estimated to peak at around 3000.

"It's been steady, there's no doubt about that," Mr Dixon told the Southland Times.

A team of 36 inspectors was being trained in Invercargill and would begin inspection work around the region today, he said.

More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded in the region since the main quake.

- NZPA