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| Death Toll Caused by Bilis Storm Rises to 115 |
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Floods and rainstorms accompanying Typhoon Bilis have killed 115 people across southeast China, according to official estimates on Sunday. Rainstorms hit Fujian Province where Bilis landed at noon on Friday, causing flooding and landslides that left 43 dead, 24 missing and four injured. Ten of the missing were confirmed buried in a landslide in Zhangzhou at 1:00 AM on Sunday. Rescue work is underway, but city officials believe their chances of survival is slim. Heavy rain in Fujian is continuing. Fourteen of the province's 68 counties and cities have recorded rainfall of more than 200 millimeters, including two whose rainfall exceeded 400 millimeters. Three million people had been affected by flooding, 19,100 houses destroyed and 519,000 people were evacuated by 6:00 PM on Sunday. Rainstorms and floods ruined 144,680 hectares of crops and forced 1,865 industrial and mining enterprises to close, resulting in losses of three billion yuan (US$375 million). The Fujian government has appropriated 4.3 million yuan (US$537,500) for relief aid and delivered 2,000 quilts, 6,000 boxes of instant noodles and 12,000 tents to victims. Aid has also been distributed in Hunan Province, where at least 39 people have died since torrential rains started at dawn on Saturday. Rescuers have evacuated 262,000 people, but 112,000 are cut off by flooding. At least 4.31 million people in Hunan have been affected by the rainstorm and floods, with 34,000 houses destroyed and 156,000 hectares of crops ruined. The provincial government immediately allocated nine million yuan (US$1.13 million) to ensure basic food and shelter, and more than 2,000 quilts have been distributed. Floods have cut off two state-level roads, six province-level roads and damaged 15 bridges. Over 1,000 people in 100 vehicles had their journeys disrupted. The provincial government earmarked four million yuan (US$500,000) and dispatched 3,000 road workers for repair work. Water levels in Leiyang have risen 10.11 meters since 3:00 PM Friday to a record 83.23 meters. The Hunan Headquarters of Flood and Drought Prevention is organizing soldiers to combat flooding. In Guangdong Province, where 33 people were killed by the storm and landslides, 1.32 million have been affected and 4,744 homes destroyed. About 10,000 workers are repairing the flooded section of the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway. Several trains have been cancelled and by 4:00 PM 25,000 tickets had been refunded. Water level in many parts of the province are at historic highs. Local meteorological departments said heavy rains or rainstorms would continue in Guangdong for the next couple of days. (Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2006) |
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