The damage bill from last week’s New Zealand earthquake will top $2 million, according to the country’s Earthquake Commission. The quake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, hit the sparsely populated south-western region of the South Island.

The commission has so far received about 300 claims for damage, and aftershocks are still being felt throughout the country. GM David Middleton told the New Zealand Herald that seismic activity has been extremely quiet for some time and the claims are the “biggest in several years”.

Reported damage so far ranges from small cracks in walls to toppled chimneys and fireplaces. Shops lost stock that fell off shelves.

Mr Middleton says people with holiday homes should try to inspect their properties as soon as possible, because claims have to be made within 30 days.