Authorities in east China's Anhui Province have dispatched 5,390 medical workers in 1,230 teams and to flood-hit areas in a bid to prevent epidemics and safeguard public health.

 

The floods caused by continuous torrential rain since late June have affected nearly 14 million people and forced the evacuation of 450,000 people in 67 counties, cities and districts, according to the Anhui Provincial Department of Civil Affairs.

 

Approximately 35,000 houses have been destroyed and 1.25 million hectares of cropland have been inundated, resulting in about 6.5 billion yuan (US$850 million) of direct economic losses, latest statistics show.

 

Altogether 27 people have died and another nine are missing, statistics show.

 

Nearly 50 million yuan (US$6.6 million) have been allocated by the central government and the Anhui provincial government for disaster relief in the flood-hit areas.

 

The provincial government has set up temporary shelters for the evacuated population, and distributed rice, flour, instant food, bottled water, coal, tents and other relief materials.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2007)