China's Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry of Finance recently appropriated 258 million yuan (US$32.25 million) as central government relief funds to seven flood-hit regions in the south.

They are the provinces of Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Jiangsu, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Floods, caused by heavy rainfall since June, have resulted in serious losses to industrial and agricultural production, many human casualties and serious property losses in China.

So far, the two ministries have appropriated 2.05 billion yuan (US$256.25 million) of central government relief funds and 21,120 tents to disaster-hit areas this year.

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2006)