NEW ZEALAND EQC SAYS IT IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON QUAKE ASSESSMENT

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) in New Zealand is ahead of schedule with full assessments of damage as a result of the February earthquake in Christchurch, with nearly 19,000 completed, according to Commission CEO Ian Simpson. More than 13,000 emergency repairs have been completed. He said that NZD888m ($724m) had been paid on all claims since the September 4 event. Meanwhile, the EQC has classed today's 5.5 magnitude earthquake in Canterbury as a "new event" for insurance purposes – the 10th since last September's Darfield quake. People with new or worsened damage will have until September 6 to submit a claim.