SOEs donate 300 million yuan to quake area

BEIJING - Donations from 43 centrally-administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have topped 300 million yuan ($48.08 million) for quake-hit areas in Southwest China's Sichuan province, an official said on Thursday.

Besides donations, SOEs have been active in helping, said Huang Shuhe, deputy head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

Telecom and electricity companies have been repairing destroyed facilities to restore communication and power. Oil and grain companies have been providing relief as well, Huang said.

More donations may arrive in the coming days, Huang said.

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Lushan County, in Sichuan Province, on Saturday has left 196 dead as of Wednesday.