 |
Search : | ||
|
|||
News
|
News stories
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 August 2002 By France Hurtubise in Beijing, China While still recovering from June's deadly flash floods, the population of China's central provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi and Fujian continue to suffer from heavy rain falls effecting millions more. For over 10 hours on 8 August, 230 millimetres of rain fell on the province of Hunan. Initial reports from the Chinese Red Cross confirm that at least 11 people are dead almost 6 million people across four prefectures were seriously effected. The water level of the Xian Jian river has risen rapidly and at its highest point, the water level is 1.93 metres above the warning level. The Chinese Red Cross is working in cooperation with the government to provide first aid and distribute relief items. In Hunan province, the flood victims are in need of clothing, blankets, food, and medical supplies. In neighbouring Fujian province, 285 millimetres of rain fell in one day across the four coastal prefectures of Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Putian and Zhangzhou. Five people are reported dead and over 1 million people are affected. "All my crops are submerged; buried under one metre of silt," says one farmer. "I have lost my house, so did my children, I only have my pigs left." In Fujian, the extreme weather also caused considerable damage to infrastructure. Over 80 kilometres of roads were washed away and 35 kilometres of power lines were destroyed. More than 83 fishing boats were badly damaged. The Chinese Red Cross branches in Fujian and Jiangxi province organized distributions in several villages. "The distributions are being handled with much respect and dignity," says Asa Blomquist, International Federation delegate in China. While busy in the field trying to save their rice harvest, the farmers don't have time to clear the rubble. Many of the families are still in extremely trying conditions living under temporary shelter amongst the remains of their homes. Related Links: China: Flash Floods Appeal Make an Online Donation More on: China |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
