State property damage in Padang quake costs Rp 75b

State-owned insurance firm Askrida will cover for damages on state property caused by earthquake that hit West Sumatra last year, totaling at least Rp 75 billion (US$8.1 million).

“[However] the number may rise, because calculation process is not over,” Bambang Istiono, head of Development Planning at the provincial administration, told tempointeraktif.com on Saturday.

Bambang said that the 7.9-magnitude quake that hit late in September decimated five administration buildings, leaving 22 others heavily damaged and 34 others moderately damaged.

Among the destroyed buildings were several buildings of the province's Development Planning Body, Education Agency, and archives office.