MOFA sets up relief fund for Kumamoto earthquake

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday announced a dedicated bank account for cash donations as it works to establish a relief fund for people affected by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday.The Mega Bank account (021-09-01-7741) is to accept donations from tomorrow to Aug. 31. Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said President William Lai (賴清德), Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) would each donate NT$200,000 to the account. A man walks past collapsed houses in Kumamoto Prefecture yesterday following Tuesday’s earthquake. Photo: AFP Taiwan and Japan have supported each other during difficult times over the years, Kuo said.She called on the public to extend their goodwill to earthquake-hit areas