Floods leave 41 dead, 107 missing in NW China's Shaanxi

Photo taken on July 20, 2010 shows local medical staff carry out epidemical prevention work at Ankang city, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, July 19, 2010. (Xinhua Photo)
Floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains in southern parts of northwest China's Shaanxi Province have left at least 41 people dead and 107 others missing by Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson with the provincial government said Wednesday morning.

Heavy rain ravaged 22 counties in three cities including Ankang, Shangluo and Hanzhong from last Friday to Sunday, with precipitation up to 330 mm in the worst-hit area, which was a record since 1953.

By Tuesday afternoon, 1.66 million people in the three cities were affected, 27,160 houses were destroyed, and 101,000 hectares of farmland were affected. Direct economic losses were estimated at 2.49 billion yuan (366 million U.S. dollars).

In Ankang alone, two major landslides occurred Sunday night, leaving 14 dead and 35 others missing.

One of the landslide happened at Qiyan village in Hanbin District and the other at Muzhu village in Fenggao County.

Source:Xinhua