MOSCOW, February 21 (RIA Novosti) - State awards will be given to people who distinguished themselves in responding to the recent meteorite strike in the Chelyabinsk Region, Russian Civil Defense and Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said on Thursday.

Awards will be given to individuals, local authorities, emergency response teams, firefighters, rescue workers and others who have shown “courage, dedication, professionalism and endurance under strenuous conditions,” he said.

Chelyabinsk Governor Mikhail Yurevich had earlier asked local residents to report instances of heroism during the meteorite strike.

Windows were shattered and walls damaged by shockwaves in 7,420 buildings, mostly residential, as the meteorite streaked across the sky over the Chelyabinsk Region on February 15. Over 1,500 people were injured, mostly by flying glass.

The total bill for the damage is estimated at 1 billion rubles ($33 million).

The Chelyabinsk Region administration asked the federal government on Monday to grant 500 million rubles ($17 million) aid to help repair damage caused by the meteorite.