Torrential rains in the southwestern provinces of Sichuan
and Yunnan
have resulted in more deaths from floods and landslides.
The death toll in Sichuan rose to 15 after the local government
confirmed six more deaths on Thursday, and two remained missing
after powerful landslides and floods triggered by a continuous
downpour from Monday to Wednesday.
The six newly reported victims were mostly from Miyi County of
Panzhihua City in the south of the province.
The disaster affected more than 39,000 residents and destroyed
farmland, traffic, electricity and communication facilities in
Miyi, causing 47 million yuan (US$5.8 million) in direct economic
losses, the provincial disaster-relief office said.
Three other counties of Panzhihua and Ziyang City, already
coping with the pig-borne epidemic since June 24, were hit by rapid
mountain torrents and mud-rock flows with nine deaths and more than
23,000 people affected.
Displaced people have been accommodated and relief materials
sent to disaster-hit areas, according to the office.
A relief work team, made up of officials from?Sichuan's
Department of Civil Affairs, Department of Land and Resources and
the provincial disaster-relief office, has arrived to assist
operations.
In Xundian Hui-Yi Autonomous County of Kunming, capital of
Yunnan, floods washed away seven people from Shabatang Village on
Wednesday,?three of whom have so far been confirmed dead and
two missing, said local government sources.
Crashing floods caused by torrential rains struck at 7:20 PM as
the villagers were working in the fields.
The county government organized a 200-strong rescue team to
search for victims immediately after the disaster took place, and
the two survivors, who were hospitalized, are now out of
danger.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2005)