The terrorist attack on New York has already cost the city $40 billion, it was claimed today.
"The bill for the strikes on the World Trade Centre will dwarf previous tragedies such as hurricanes and earthquakes", Crain's New York Businessnewspaper reported, and costs were still rising.
The cost of losing the twin towers themselves and the equipment inside them accounted for $14 billion, plus $15 billion for medical coverage, lost wages and lower business income.
Lower spending and lost taxes will cost the city $11 billion, and the emergency services bill was expected to amount to about $5 billion.
The cost of the human toll of the atrocity was harder to pinpoint, but insurance research firm Fox-Pitt Kelton said the insured medical costs would hit about $5 billion.
PA
