Floods claim 64 lives in northwest China
( 2003-09-15 17:02) (Xinhua)
Floods following continuous rainstorms claimed 64 lives in the last two weeks
in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the provincial government announced on
Monday.
An investigation by the provincial government showed the floods damaged over
130,000 hectares of crops, causing economic losses of 5.93 billion yuan (US$717
million).
Fifty-nine people were missing in the floods, according to the provincial
government.
Recent rainstorms caused serious floods and mud and rock slides in the
central and southern parts of Shaanxi Province.
The Weihe River, the biggest tributary of the Yellow River, the second
longest river in China, reported the most serious flood since 1981. Floodwater
breached the embankment of the river, inundating vast areas of farmland and
making over 200,000 locals homeless.
People in disaster areas have begun rebuilding their homes and resumed
production as the floods recede. The provincial government has allocated more
than 50 million yuan (US$6.04 million) in relief funds to help flood victims.
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