By 6 PM on Thursday, Chinese citizens had donated nearly 1.02 billion yuan (146 million U.S. dollars) in cash and relief supplies to snow disaster areas, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Thursday.

Of the total, 76.81 million yuan was collected by the ministry itself, while 136 million yuan was received by the Red Cross Society of China and 44.1 million yuan came from the China Charity Federation.

The seven worst-hit provinces and regions, including Hunan Province, have received donations worth 761 million yuan.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2008)