Disaster toll reaches 26

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-11-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE death toll from landslides and mud-rock flows in southwest China's Yunnan Province has risen to 26, as four more people were confirmed dead, local authorities said yesterday.

The bodies were found in a village in Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Chuxiong, the area hardest hit by two days of torrential rains, said the Chuxiong disaster relief headquarters.

Chuxiong has so far reported 20 deaths and 41 people missing. The provincial capital Kunming reported four deaths and Lincang City had two deaths.

More than 411,000 people in 13 counties of the province have been affected by rains that triggered landslides and mud-rock flows.

More than 25,000 people have been evacuated to safe places and five disaster relief teams were at work, said Fa Yubin, deputy head of disaster relief in Chuxiong.

Initial investigations show more than 1,000 homes collapsed and some 2,300 others were damaged in the disaster. Cropland, power supplies, telecommunication and transportation were also affected.

The government of Chuxiong has allocated 1.5 million yuan (US$220,000) for relief work. Heavy rain has been forecast for the affected areas for the next day or two.