Japan earthquake donations exceed NT$80 million: Health ministry

Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) Over NT$84.27 million (US$2.72 million) has been donated as of Sunday by Taiwanese to help Japan recover from its devastating Jan. 1 earthquake, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said Monday.

In response to the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that rocked the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, causing widespread damage to buildings and claiming the lives of at least 161 people, the MOHW initiated a donation program on Jan. 5 that ends on Jan. 19.

Yang Ya-lan (楊雅嵐), deputy head of the MOHW's Department of Social Assistance and Social Work, said that as of Sunday the program's accounts had registered 35,028 donations totaling more than NT$84.27 million in the three days since the program began.

In addition, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs pledged to donate 60 million Japanese yen (US$418,363) on Jan. 4.

People who want to make donations have several options, including through kiosks at convenience store chains, or through Chunghwa Post or Bank of Taiwan accounts.

A chart in Chinese showing the options can be found at https://www.mohw.gov.tw/cp-6672-77124-1.html.