Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rain have left 15
people dead and two missing in southwest China's Sichuan Province, a spokesman with the
Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said on Tuesday.
Two villagers from Tingzi Township of Dazhou City were engulfed
by a flash flood Monday afternoon, bringing the death toll in the
city to 10.
In Dazhou, 64 other people were injured and about 2.3 million
people affected in 132 counties and townships. Sixteen reservoirs
were damaged and about 4,000 houses collapsed or were
destroyed.
It also triggered landslides, deluged croplands, blocked roads,
and cut off telecommunications, electricity and drinking water
supplies in parts of the city.
About 127,000 people in the province have been relocated as a
result of the floods, which have caused direct losses worth 326
million yuan (US$42 million), said the spokesman.
According to a weather forecast from the Sichuan Meteorological
Bureau, the northeastern part of the province will see fresh
downpours and thunderstorms beginning Wednesday night through
Friday.
Torrential rain also hit neighboring Chongqing Municipality and
central Hubei Province. No fatalities have yet been reported.
The MCA has dispatched a team to the region to assist relief
work. Deputy governor Guo Yongxiang arrived at worst-hit Dazhou to
guide disaster-relief operations.
(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2007)
