China began to provide free identity information checks on Thursday for victims who lost their IDs during the earthquake and met difficulties in receiving payment, according to the Ministry of Security.

While the country's insurers have already paid 233 million yuan (33 million U.S. dollars) of indemnities for quake losses as of Tuesday, many victims had yet to be covered as they lost their identity certificates or guarantee slips, something which hindered the normal process of getting payment.

The service center, under the Ministry of Security, provides free inquiries about Chinese citizens' identity number and other identity document information.

During the period of post-quake reconstruction, the free-of-charge service is available for all insurers in the country.

Insurance companies nationwide have so far received 220,000 claims. Of the 233 million yuan paid out, 142 million yuan went to life insurance and 91.51 million yuan went to property claims.

Wu Dingfu, China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) chairman, said earlier that insurers should make every effort to ensure payment for losses.

The 8.0-magnitude earthquake centered on Sichuan' Wenchuan County had claimed 69,127 lives nationwide as of Thursday noon, while 373,612 were injured and 17,918 were missing.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2008)