Huaihe River's rising water levels forced another 67,000 people in east China's Anhui Province away from their homes on Thursday, according to the local flood control authorities.

By 10:00 AM on Thursday, the river's water level at Linhuaiguan, a township in Fengyang County near the middle reaches of the Huaihe, had risen to 20.35 meters. This exceeded the safety limit of 19.90 meters, the county flood control headquarters reported.

The Anhui provincial flood control headquarters issued an urgent notice at 2:00 AM on Thursday, requiring all 67,615 residents from 56 villages in the Huanyuanhu floodwater diversion area to evacuate before 4:00 PM.

The Fengyang county government has mapped out nine evacuation routes. All residents were evacuated by 4:00 PM, according to Zheng Li, a member of the county's Publicity Department.

Residents fled their homes in 15,300 tractors and trucks, loaded with furniture, home appliances, foods, quilts and livestock. Some residents covered their tractors with white plastic cloths to protect their belongings from the steady rain.

Zheng said almost all county and township officials and staff had been mobilized to help with relocation. The county government commandeered 110 trucks, dozens of buses and about 30 boats. Drivers were hired to help the residents relocate.

She said that most residents would have to stay with their relatives, some in schools, and others in tents.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China's death toll from natural disasters is 715 so far this year, with 129 people still missing. Severe flooding has hit about half of China since the start of the summer, claiming 400 lives so far.

The figures compiled to July 16 also showed that 200 million people have been affected by natural disasters. This includes: floods, landslides, droughts, gales, snowstorms and earthquakes. Additionally, 4.45 million people have been forced to leave their homes.

More than 533,000 houses have collapsed and nearly 26.18 million hectares of farmland have been affected.

Total direct losses amounted to 73.58 billion Yuan (US$9.68 billion). The government has set aside 805 million Yuan (US$105.92 million) to date in order to provide assistance to the worst flood-hit areas, according to the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2007)