A spate of disastrous weather, including sandstorms, torrential rains and hail, has caused chaos in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the last three days.
On June 3, a strong sandstorm struck Toli County in northern Xinjiang at 7:20 p.m., blowing away all the roofs off a township school and destroying a cattle breeding station.
At noon the following day, torrential rains brought floods to the county town of Toli, washing away nearly 1,000 trees, seriously damaging two warehouses and causing other damage.
On the same day, rainstorms and hail hit Habahe and Jeminay counties, also in northern Xinjiang, causing one injury and damage to 25 houses, 47 stalls and 2,000 hectares of crops. As many as 7, 560 persons or 1,520 families were affected by the disaster, which caused damage and property loss valued at 3.66 million yuan.
Efforts are being made to resume production and normal life in the disaster-stricken areas.
(People's Daily June 7, 2002)
