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)