Taiwan's public fundraising for Japan's Kumamoto earthquake has topped NT$300 million, good news for a disaster zone still digging out from a deadly quake.

• A magnitude 7.1 quake hit Kumamoto in late July, killing 39 people and damaging more than 30,000 homes.
• Taiwan's foreign ministry opened a donation account on August 1 through its international cooperation fund.
• Donations have passed NT$300 million, worth over 1.4 billion yen.
• Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung thanked donors and pointed to the long habit of Taiwan and Japan helping each other after disasters.

Outlook: The fundraising drive closes on August 31, after which Taiwan and Japan will work out how the money is handed over.