SHENZHEN'S civil affairs authorities yesterday received donations totaling nearly 10 million yuan (US$1.43 million) for the victims of a powerful earthquake that rocked Sichuan and its neighboring provinces Monday and resulted in the deaths of more than 12,000 people.

By 4 p.m. yesterday, the Shenzhen Charity Association received cash donations of 4 million yuan and goods valued at 3.66 million yuan. The goods were sent to Sichuan by air yesterday afternoon.

Of the donors, Shenzhen border police authorities, Huangpeng Fund Management and Guoxian Science and Technology Co. Ltd. donated 720,000, 700,000 and 110,000 yuan respectively.

The Shenzhen Municipal Government donated 2 million yuan yesterday to Guizhou, which was also affected by the earthquake and sent 20 tons of goods mainly medicine, water, tents, candles and emergency lamps, to Sichuan.

Shenzhen's armed police authorities have sent a team of 100 soldiers and 20 medical workers to Sichuan for disaster relief work. A police team comprising 215 commandos left the city yesterday morning.

"After we announced the bank account number and hotline number for donations, the ringing never stopped," said a staff worker with the association, who received nearly 200 phone calls yesterday.

People waited in lines at the Dongmen Culture Square to make donations yesterday afternoon, when the city's civil affairs bureau held a ceremony in the city's busiest commercial area.

Some expats living in the city called the Shenzhen Daily to ask how to donate.

An Indian woman surnamed Ahuja, who organizes charity events in Shenzhen, said she would launch a charity drive for the benefit of quake-stricken areas. Another expatriate named Robin Serrall, a teacher at Manhar Kindergarten in Futian District, said that he would raise funds along with four other teachers.

The association reminded residents to transfer money directly to the bank account. Foreigners who can't write in Chinese can donate at the association's office.

Shenzhen Charity Association

Donation hotline: 0755-82485528

Account number: 1806014400000055

Opening bank: China Minsheng Bank Futian Subbranch

Address of the association: 3/F, Building B, Zhongmin Times Square, 12 Sungang Road East, Luohu District

Tel: 82485880, 82485891

Shenzhen Daily