HANGZHOU, March 11 (Xinhua) -- East China's Zhejiang Province on Wednesday sent 3.86 million pieces, or 4,556 boxes, of protective equipment to help overseas Chinese in Italy fight the novel coronavirus.

A cargo plane loaded with 26.4 tonnes of disposable masks, N95 medical masks, goggles, latex gloves and other protective clothing left the provincial capital of Hangzhou for Europe at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday.

Zhejiang's first batch of donations for overseas Chinese came from people from all walks of life in the province.

Over 300,000 Chinese from Zhejiang live in Italy. As the virus spreads, a number of regions in Italy face a shortage of protective equipment supplies.

"Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus, overseas Chinese of Zhejiang origin have tried every means to purchase epidemic prevention materials and support their hometown to fight the epidemic," said Zhang Weiren, vice-chairman of the Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

"Overseas Chinese are now in difficulty, and their relatives in the motherland should give them the utmost support," Zhang said.

Due to the suspension of direct flights between China and Italy, the donations would arrive first in Liege, Belgium, and then be transferred to Italy, said Gao Kaiyong, deputy chief of the general office of the Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

"If all goes well, the goods will arrive in Turin, Italy, this weekend," Gao said.