A plane carrying five tons of aid materials took off here Friday for China's earthquake-hit Sichuan Province, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

This was the second batch of emergency aid from Spain to China and includes 82 all-weather tents, offering shelter to some 660 homeless people in Sichuan.

The earthquake, which happened on May 12, has so far left over 55,000 dead and many more homeless.

Soon after the quake hit, Spain donated 1 million euros (about US$1.57 million) and some seven tons of medicine to the victims.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2008)