Flood-struck residents evacuated in NW China
( 2003-09-01 16:48) (Xinhua)
The second flood crest on the Weihe River, a tributary of the Yellow River,
arrived at Huaxian County in northwest China's Shaanxi Province Monday, forcing
over 100,000 residents to be evacuated from the threatened areas.
The embankment had been soaked by the first flood crest long before the
arrival of the second crest traveling at speeds surpassing the historical high,
according to local flood control departments.
The Shaanxi Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has
allocated 20 rubber boats and 1,000 life jackets to the counties along the
river. Residents have been evacuated from the threatened areas since Sunday
morning.
Continuous rain has caused flooding in over 50 rivers in Shaanxi Province
since Aug. 24, affecting over one million residents and over 700,000 Mu (46,667
hectares) of cropland. It has caused a direct economic loss of over two billion
yuan (US$241 billion), according the provincial flood control department.
Many other places in southern Shaanxi are also under flood threat. The
weather forecast says most areas in Shaanxi Province will have more rain in the
coming three days and the central areas in the province will even receive
torrential rain.
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