Four more people in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were
confirmed dead on Wednesday, bringing the death toll from the
natural disasters triggered by the tropical storm Bilis across
China to 208.
The death toll in Guangxi rose to 29 on Wednesday, while six
more people remained missing, the regional flood control and
drought relief headquarters said.
An upward of 7.12 million people were affected by the
rainstorms, flooding or rock-and-mud flows in the region, and the
direct economic losses stood at 2.2 billion yuan (about US$2.75
million).
Natural disasters caused by the tropical storm toppled 22,790
houses across Guangxi, and 491,400 residents were displaced, said
the sources.
The local government has provided more than 5 million yuan
(US$625,000) for disaster relief efforts and has dispatched 10
working groups to flood-ravaged areas to give guidance in the
relief operation.
Tropical storm Bilis landed in China last Friday and triggered
heavy rainfall and serious floods in Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi. More than 1.7 million
residents had been evacuated over the past weekend, according to
the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2006)