Taipei, July 30 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday announced a dedicated bank account for cash donations as it works to establish a relief fund for people affected by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday. The Mega Bank account (021-09-01-7741) will accept donations from the public from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31. She called on the public to extend their goodwill to earthquake-hit areas and help residents return to normal life as soon as possible. Separately, Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇), secretary-general of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said Thursday that he will donate one month's salary to the relief fund in the hope of encouraging more donations. As of 7:30 a.m. Thursday, the earthquake had left 17 people dead, 22,950 homes without electricity and 74,800 homes without water, according to the Kumamoto prefectural government.