Relief operation launched in flood-hit NE China

BEIJING - China has launched relief operation in northeastern province of Liaoning and northern province of Hebei where millions of people were affected by floods caused by Typhoon Damrey.

The National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Civil Affairs sent two teams to the flood-hit regions to direct relief work, according to a ministry statement on Sunday.

Nearly 1.46 million people of 43 counties and urban districts in 10 cities of Liaoning were affected by heavy rains and floods, which left one dead and five missing, according to the statement.

More than 10,000 houses collapsed and about 17,000 houses were damaged, forcing 138,000 people to evacuate. Nearly 70,000 hectares of crops were also damaged, with direct economic losses reaching 2.36 billion yuan ($370.4 million).

In Hebei, about 2.33 million people were affected by the disaster, including one dead, one missing and 151,000 people who were relocated. About 9,400 houses were destructed in the flooding.