Typhoon Bilis that brought rainstorms and floods across
southeast China has resulted in the deaths of 115 people, according
to official estimates on Sunday.
Rainstorms hit Fujian Province when Bilis arrived at noon on
Friday causing flooding and landslides. This 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 the possibility of survivors being found is
unlikely.
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 where rainfall exceeded 400
millimeters.
Three million people have been affected by the flooding. Over
19,000 houses were destroyed and 519,000 people evacuated by 6:00
PM on Sunday. Rainstorms and floods destroyed 144,680 hectares of
crops and forced 1,865 industrial and mining enterprises to close.
It's estimated this has resulted in losses of 3 billion yuan
(US$375 million).
The Fujian provincial government has appropriated 4.3 million
yuan (US$537,500) for relief aid and delivered 2,000 quilts, 6,000
boxes of food and 12,000 tents to victims.
Aid has also been distributed in Hunan Province where at least 39 people died
since the torrential rain 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
natural disaster with 34,000 houses destroyed and 156,000 hectares
of crops destroyed.
The provincial government immediately allocated 9 million yuan
(US$1.13 million) to ensure everyone has access to basic food and
shelter.
Floods have cut off two state-level and six province-level roads
and damaged 15 bridges. Over 1,000 people in 100 vehicles had their
journeys disrupted.
The provincial government earmarked 4 million yuan (US$500,000)
and dispatched 3,000 road workers to undertake 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 are organizing soldiers to assist.
In Guangdong Province where 33 people were killed
by the storm and landslides 1.32 million people 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 levels in many parts of the province are at historically
high levels.
Local meteorological departments say heavy rains will continue
in Guangdong for the next few days.
(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2006)