Floods Kill 203 in Shaanxi

Floods, landslides and mudslides caused by heavy rains have killed 203 people in parts of Shaanxi Province, northwest China, China Daily reported on August 11.

The six heavy rains that hit Shaanxi since the beginning of this year's flood season also caused a total economic loss of 1.43 billion yuan (US$172 million).

According to the provincial flood control headquarters, as of August 10, 31 counties in the province were hit by floods, which affected 1.54 million people, damaged a large area of residential houses and vast farmland.

Local flood control officials said that in the eight counties and cities which were hit by the heaviest rains in mid-July, 203 people died, 20,000 houses collapsed, 4,000 hectares of farmland were destroyed and 18,000 people became homeless.

Both the central and provincial governments have worked around the clock to provide disaster relief in the province, the officials said.

Up to now, people from all walks of life in the province have donated 3.35 million yuan in relief funds and a lot of clothing to disaster victims. Local disaster relief departments have allocated 150,000 kilograms of grain, clothing, more than 30 million yuan of relief fund and medicine to the disaster areas.

According to the officials, all highway arteries have reopened to traffic, key telecommunications services have been resumed and electricity supply has returned to normal in the towns hit by serious floods. Local farmers have replanted over 20,000 hectares of autumn vegetables and yam.



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