Days after a devastating magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit the southern part of Taiwan, various groups from mainland China have extended aid to the victims.
The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) announced that it has donated around 5 million yuan ($769,000) to the relatives of the victims. The funds was passed by ARATS to its Taiwanese counterpart Straits Exchange Foundation, who will in turn hand it over to the Taiwan Red Cross Society for helping the injured, the Global Times reported.
According to ARATS president Chen Deming, his organization contacted SEF immediately after the quake to offer assistance.
The Red Cross Society of China has donated 2 million yuan ($304,782) for the relief effort.
Meanwhile, the Yo Fo (Jade Buddha) Temple in Shanghai donated 500,000 yuan ($75,600) to the victims. The temple's abbot, Jue Xing, also led a group of monks in prayer for the victims.
Shanghai Association of Taiwan vice president Hu Hsing-chung extended gratitude on behalf of the victims and their families to Jue and all those who have given help.
The quake hit the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung at around 3:57 a.m on Feb. 6, causing several buildings to collapse, particularly those in nearby Tainan, where a 16-story apartment building in the Yongkang District toppled.
Rescuers ended the search for missing people at around 3 p.m. that day, with the total death count registering at 116.
Taiwanese Cabinet member Sun Lih-chun said that the government is expected to allot $758 million for the relief and rebuilding efforts in the affected region.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Chiang Been-huang informed that the Tainan city government will be giving $91,000 to the families of those killed in the quake, the China Post reported.
As part of the assistance package for victims, the Interior Ministry will also be offering rent assistance to the affected families.