Sources have said that rescue and cleanup workers at Ground Zero following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have reached a settlement in a suit against New York.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that citing people familiar with the litigation, the settlement amounts to as much as $657.5 million. The settlement would be used to compensate about 10,000 plaintiffs, depending on the extent of their illness and exposure to hazardous materials at the World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the attack, the newspaper's sources said.

The Times further said that attorneys for the plaintiffs and the city met Thursday with U. S. District Court Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein to discuss the deal. Lawyers for both sides would not comment on the report.

The report also said that the amount of the settlement will depend on how many of the plaintiffs agree to accept the terms of the deal. At least 95 percent of the plaintiffs must agree for the settlement to become effective.

The funds would come from a federally financed insurance fund controlled by the city, the newspaper said, citing its sources.

Claiming they got sick after working at Ground Zero, thousands of public safety employees and construction workers have filed lawsuits against 90 defendants. (With Inputs from Agencies)