Death toll rises to 47 in Hunan floods
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-06-02 16:59

Mountain torrents in central China's Hunan Province have left 47 dead and 50 missing, said the Hunan Provincial Civil Affairs Department Thursday.

A rescuer carries an 80-year-old man on his back to safety in central China's Hunan Provice June 2, 2005. Several cities in Hunan have been hit by abrupt mountain torrents.  According to Xinhua news agency, death toll of the disaster has climbed to 47 with 50 missing, feared dead. [newsphoto]

The flooding has affected about 4.98 million people in eight cities including Shaoyang, Loudi, Yiyang, Huaihua and Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Xiangxi in Hunan, cutting off electricity,traffic and telecommunication services in many affected villages.

The rainstorms triggered mountain torrents in about 60 villagesin six townships in Xinshao and Shaodong counties, affecting about 60,000 people and destroying 3,560 houses, according to the latest figures from Shaoyang Municipal Headquarters for Flood Control and Drought Relief.

The floods also hit more than 231,000 villagers in Xupu County in Huaihua, flushing away 1,300 heads of livestock and destroying 8,200 hectares of farm land and 37 dikes, according to Huaihua Municipal Headquarters for Flood Control and Drought Relief.

The precipitation was about 50 millimeters in the last 24 hoursin Hunan, and about 52,000 square kilometers wide. Tanjiawan in Xupu County received the most rain, about 201 millimeters, according to a local meteorological station.

The Hunan provincial government has earmarked 5 million yuan (about 602,409 US dollars) to help the affected areas and the Ministry of Communications has earmarked 4 million yuan (481,927 US dollars) for disaster relief purposes.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and theMinistry of Civil Affairs have sent task forces to the affected areas. Meanwhile, the province has sent health workers to the disaster areas for medical aid.

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