China Construction Bank, one of the big four state commercial banks, has donated 4.5 million yuan (562,500 U.S. dollars) to the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) for disaster relief.

The money will be used to re-build schools and township hospitals in six flood-afflicted provinces and regions, including Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Zhejiang and Jiangxi.

It is the largest donation received by RCSC since its call for public help on July 21, said the RCSC in a statement on Monday. The bank made the donation on July 28.

About 24 provinces and regions have suffered national disasters including floods and typhoons since the beginning of summer. Relentless heavy rains have caused deadly landslides.

Houses, fields, schools, hospitals, communication and water treatment facilities have been severely damaged by typhoon Bilis, the latest of three typhoons this summer. Bilis has left at least 612 people dead, while 208 remain missing.

The RCSC on July 21 urged the public to donate to the Bilis relief fund by direct deposit into account number 020000-10090-1441-3252 or telephoning 010-65139999 or visiting RCSC's website at www.redcross.org.cn.

The RCSC has already sent funds and materials worth more than 20 million yuan (2.54 million U.S. dollars) to help people in the Bilis-affected regions.

Editor: Yan