North China's Shanxi Province has collected a total of 126 million yuan ( 15.1 million US dollars) in relief money and materials to assist local people affected by natural disasters which have struck the province in the past 14 months.

Of the total, 50 million yuan worth of donations have already been sent to people victimized by draught, earthquakes, floods and pestilence for more than a year, according to government sources.

Since last September, a series of natural disasters have hit the province, killing 68 people and causing tremendous economic losses estimated at about 13.33 billion yuan, the sources said.

Over 2.8 million hectares of crops in the province also were affected by the disasters, sharply reducing the province's grain production.

Grain production was reduced by 50 percent in some 58 counties, and by as much as 80 percent in 20 of them, the sources added.

The provincial government has made great efforts to reduce the impact of the disasters by sending rescue teams, relief materials and money to the stricken areas.

Due to their efforts, the people there are now leading a normal life, with good security and a peaceful social order.