Almost one quarter of businesses in quake-hit Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Chongqing have reopened since May 12 earthquake, said the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Tuesday.

Chang Xiaocun, director of the MOC market construction department, said the earthquake damaged 70,527 businesses, and the losses hit 32.46 billion yuan (US$4.64 billion).

As of Tuesday, 17,233 businesses had resumed operations, including 2,007 markets and wholesale enterprises, and 15,226 retail enterprises.

A total of 66,661 Sichuan-based businesses lost 31.82 billion yuan, and 14,707 of them had resumed operations as of Tuesday.

A total of 2,692 Gansu-based companies lost 245.21 million yuan, 1,782 of them have been restored.

The earthquake claimed 1,557 workers' lives, injured 8,694, and more than 200 are still missing.

Death toll nationwide increased by 88 overnight to 69,107 as of Tuesday noon, the Information Office of the State Council said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2008)