WTC first responders settle

Thousands of workers who suffered health problems after the 11 September attacks in 2001 have reached a settlement worth up to $657.5m with an insurer representing the city of New York, Reuters reports.

Firefighters, police, contractors and others who worked at "Ground Zero" in the ruins of the World Trade Center sued the city and its contractors for claims of injuries associated with their rescue and clean-up work.

Federally financed insurance fund the WTC Captive Insurance Company, created in 2004 with a $1bn grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will foot the bill.

First responders

"The resolution of the World Trade Center litigation will allow the first responders and workers to be compensated for injuries suffered following their work at Ground Zero," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.

Workers will be entitled to a payment based on the severity of his or her injuries, said Captive Insurance. Payments will be as high as $1m.

"This agreement enables workers and volunteers claiming injury from the WTC site operations to obtain compensation commensurate with the nature of their injuries and the strength of their claims, while offering added protection against possible future illness," said Christine LaSala, president of Captive Insurance.