BEIJING -- Taiwan has thus far donated 348 million yuan(56.6 million U.S. dollars) to Lushan county on Chinese mainland, that was rocked by a massive earthquake last month, a mainland spokesman said on Wednesday.

Donations totaling 248 million yuan have already arrived at the quake zone, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Yang Yi said at a press conference.

People in the quake zone are deeply grateful for the donations made by their Taiwanese compatriots, he said.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Lushan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province on April 20. The earthquake left at least 196 dead. It is estimated that 2 million residents were affected by the disaster.