Floods Force Evacuations in East China
Anhui Province in east China, one of the three worst hit areas in this year's early summer floods on the Yangtze River, has evacuated more than 150,000 people to safer ground before July 4.
Seven counties in the province, spanning some 10,000 sq. km. area, have been badly affected by floods raging to the highest levels since records were kept, because of torrential rainfall, with precipitation of over 500 mm, which had lingered to July 1 since June 23, according to the Flood Control and Drought Relief Center in Xuancheng Prefecture.
A ray of sunlight has been seen since July 2, when comprehensive relief work was carried out to ensure the provision of shelters, food, clothes and medicines for the victims. So far, some 158,300 people have been relocated to safer ground and there are no reports of any deaths.
A total of 18.48 million yuan (2.2 million US dollars) of emergency relief money and some relief materials have been made available and 35 emergency medical teams dispatched to 46 severely flood-hit townships.
Three main roads leading to the prefecture re-opened to traffic today and others which have been damaged are being repaired. (Xinhua)
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