BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China earmarked 485 million yuan (about 70.7 million U.S. dollars) for drought relief and post-disaster reconstruction, in late May, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The funds were allocated to drought-stricken regions in northern China where over 100,000 square kilometers of farmland has been in the grip of drought since mid-April, as well as to quake-stricken areas in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Eight deaths have been reported and another 23 were injured in the Magnitude 5.5 quake that jolted Taxkorgan County at 5:58 a.m. on May 11. Over 1,500 houses were destroyed or badly damaged.

The ministry said it would keep an eye on weather changes and continue to provide financial support for disaster-hit regions.