Death toll in China flooding rises to 64 dead, 59 missing

BEIJING (AFP) Sep 15, 2003
The death toll from rampant flooding in northern China's Shaanxi province since late August has risen to 64 dead, 59 missing and some 600,000 relocated, state press said Monday.

The floods have inundated some 139,000 hectares (321,100 acres) of cropland in the Wei River valley and along its tributaries, causing some 5.93 billion yuan (717 million dollars) in damages, Xinhua news agency reported.

The government was pouring in 6.0 million dollars in relief funds to aid the recovery of villages and farmers in the region, it said.

The flooding on the Wei River was the biggest since 1981, with some 200,000 people left homeless after a dyke along the river in Hua county collapsed and inundated surrounding farmlands.

Aid however has been slow to reach the worst affected areas and on September 4 thousands of destitute villagers ransacked government offices, breaking windows and overturning vehicles in Hua county, blaming authorities for not supplying relief.

Police arrested up to 30 rioters, locals said.

Hundreds of protesters also blocked the Xian-Tongguan highway for some four hours on September 5.

TERRA.WIRE