Society

South China floods death toll rises to 175

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-21 16:18

BEIJING - Persistent rain and floods in ten regions of southern China had left 175 dead and 107 missing by 8 am Monday, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (OSFCDRH) and the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.

Related readings:  Over 10M affected by floods in?S China, 132 dead  Death toll in S China floods hits 69  Officials warn of new floods, landslides in S China  Millions affected by rainstorms, floods in southern China

The floods, the most severe for 50 years in some regions, have affected 25.15 million people and 1.36 million hectares of farmland. They have caused the collapse of 144,000 houses and the evacuation of 1.71 million people.

Economic losses have reached 29.7 billion yuan ($4.37 billion).

According to OSFCDRH, water levels in Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake continue to rise but are still below the danger level. However, all 26 rivers in Jiangxi province have passed the risky level.

Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei has asked local authorities to keep a close watch on the situation.

The worst-hit provinces include Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan and Guangxi.

China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) Monday lowered its rainstorm alert from orange to blue, the lowest level, for the country's southern regions as the storms weaken.

But torrential rains will pound northern parts of Fujian province Monday and Tuesday, the NMC forecast.