Flood-triggered disasters have killed more than 1,450 Chinese this year, with another 669 missing, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Lingering rainstorms have been slashing provinces including Shaanxi, Sichuan and Jilin this year, triggering floods and landslides, which have affected a population of 200 million and forced more than 12 million to evacuate, according to the ministry.

Nearly 13.5 million hectares of crops were affected by heavy rains and floods, with 2.09 million hectares destroyed, while floods have also leveled more than 1.36 million houses.

The total economic loss was put at more than 275 billion yuan (US$40.6 billion), according to the ministry.

The central finance authority has recently allocated 195 million yuan to subsidize local governments in those regions worst-hit by natural disasters such as rainstorms and typhoons.

The fund, which has been channeled to Jilin, Guangdong, Sichuan and Shaanxi, as well as the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, will be used in relocating residents, helping people rebuild homes and offering relief for residents who lost family members.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2010)