People from all circles of Chinese society have donated a total of 1.16 billion yuan (about 155 million U.S. dollars) to the areas stricken by snow and rain havoc, announced the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Sunday.

By 18:00 Sunday, the ministry had received 85.8 million yuan (about 11.4 U.S. dollars) of direct donation for those areas, China Red Cross Association and its branch organizations received 136 million yuan (about 18 million U.S. dollars) in donations, and the rest was received by the China Charity Federation and the provincial governments of the seven most seriously stricken areas.

China's eastern, central and southern regions have suffered from prolonged snow, rain and since mid-January, leaving at least 80 people dead and 100 million people affected in 19 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2008)