Twenty-eight people have been killed in mud-rock flows, landslides and other geological disasters caused by torrential rains in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality since late June.

According to statistics released by the municipal civil affairs bureau on Wednesday, 37 of the 40 districts or counties in the municipality have incurred a combined direct economic loss of about one billion yuan (some US$120 million).

By Tuesday, 4,093 places have reported geological adversities, in which 49,700 houses were toppled down and 4.06 million locals victimized.

The disasters also brought ruins to 293 schools. Approximately 13,000 square meters of school buildings collapsed and another 99,000 square meters were in a critical condition. As a result, over 15,000 school children had to suspend their classes.

Traffic in many parts of the municipality came to a halt.

More than 500 rescue teams equipped with over 200 rescue vehicles have been dispatched to provide food, potable water and accommodation.

The victims have been evacuated; some of them accommodated with relatives while others in temporary makeshift shelters provided by the government.

The municipal government also sent more than 400 tents to worst- affected areas, and over 2,000 workers from epidemic prevention departments have been carrying out disinfection tasks.

(Eastday.com July 11, 2003)