Rains, floods kill over 200 people in China

BEIJING – A week of torrential rains and heavy flooding has killed 204 people in China, with 79 others missing, and caused widespread damage, state media reported yesterday, citing government figures.

The seasonal downpours have affected more than 17 million people so far, including those who have lost property and others who have had to flee flooded areas, the Xinhua news agency said. Official statistics showed that 614 000 hectares of farmland were also destroyed and 137 900 rooms were damaged, Xinhua said.China calculates damage to buildings by room.Governments across the country have been ordered to mobilise manpower and resources to battle the floods, in particular to prevent major rivers and reservoirs from being breached.Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said at a meeting of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Saturday that measures should be taken to reduce human casualties and keep property loss at a minimum, Xinhua said.Hui has also demanded the prompt relocation of people made homeless by the flooding and the safeguarding of reservoirs to protect water supplies.Heavy downpours and fast-moving mountain torrents have battered several provinces, including Hunan, Sichuan and Guizhou, since May 30, killing tens of thousands of livestock.Emergency relief supplies were rushed to flood-hit areas to help hundreds of thousands of people forced from their homes, reports said.Officials said they had dispatched rice, clean water and other relief materials while the health ministry issued an urgent circular calling for immediate measures to stem outbreaks of disease.The worst-affected province was Hunan where by Friday 60 people had been killed.- Nampa-AFPOfficial statistics showed that 614 000 hectares of farmland were also destroyed and 137 900 rooms were damaged, Xinhua said.China calculates damage to buildings by room.Governments across the country have been ordered to mobilise manpower and resources to battle the floods, in particular to prevent major rivers and reservoirs from being breached.Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said at a meeting of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Saturday that measures should be taken to reduce human casualties and keep property loss at a minimum, Xinhua said.Hui has also demanded the prompt relocation of people made homeless by the flooding and the safeguarding of reservoirs to protect water supplies.Heavy downpours and fast-moving mountain torrents have battered several provinces, including Hunan, Sichuan and Guizhou, since May 30, killing tens of thousands of livestock.Emergency relief supplies were rushed to flood-hit areas to help hundreds of thousands of people forced from their homes, reports said.Officials said they had dispatched rice, clean water and other relief materials while the health ministry issued an urgent circular calling for immediate measures to stem outbreaks of disease.The worst-affected province was Hunan where by Friday 60 people had been killed.- Nampa-AFP