The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Saturday allocated 5 million yuan (610,000 US dollars) for flood relief to northeast China's Heilongjiang Province where floods have killed 64 people.

A joint working team by Ministries of Finance, Railways, Commerce and Water Resources has been dispatched to Shalan Town in Ning'an City to guide anti-flood efforts, according to headquarters.

All localities must keep on high alert for mountain torrents caused by heavy rain, noted the headquarters, calling on local authorities to continue their search for the missing.

Heavy flooding and mountain torrents hit a school about 2:00 p.m. Friday in Shalan. As of Saturday, 64 residents including 62 middle school students have been confirmed dead.

About 1,333 hectares of farm land were devastated, 55 houses collapsed and 1,800 villagers' life affected.

A rescue team of 1,400 people, including 1,000 military officers and soldiers and 400 government officials, have arrived in the flood-hit area. Seventeen medical experts from Harbin Medical School in the provincial capital have been dispatched to help disaster relief efforts, the rescue headquarters said.

Medical staff concentrated on the prevention of contagious diseases by disinfecting each rural household. A temporary residential quarter has been established to accommodate homeless local people.

Provincial Governor Zhang Zuoji and other high-ranking officials with the provincial government have arrived at Shalan Town to guide rescue work, the headquarters added.

Source: Xinhua