China snowstorm death-toll reaches 129, four others missing
Saturday, 23 Feb 2008 13:08
China's Guangdong province has been worst-hit by the storms
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Snowstorms in China have claimed 129 lives and cost the country 151.65 billion yuan (£10.6 billion) in economic losses, according to their government.
Four others remain missing and 1.66 million have been people have been relocated, civil affairs vice minister Li Liguo told the official Chinese news agency, Xinhua.
Over 11.86 million hectares of cropland have been affected in the winter havoc and 485,000 houses collapsed, Li said.
China is facing its worst weather in 50 years. Among the worst-hit areas is the Guangdong province, mainland's closest link to Hong Kong, one of China's most important manufacturing regions.
Economists believe the storms, which are affecting food supplies and mining operations, pushed inflation up in January.
Last Thursday, the ministry of civil affairs said public donations for China's snow-hit areas had reached 1.53 billion yuan (£108.75 million).
The donations include cash and goods donated to the ministry, the Red Cross Society of China and the China Charity Federation, as well as provinces devastated by heavy snow and freezing rain since mid-January.
The donations have been used in disaster relief and the rebuilding efforts in these affected provinces, the ministry said.
The month-long bad weather has affected 21 provinces across the county.