The All-China Federation of the Trade Unions on Sunday allocated 1 million yuan (US$150,000) of emergency funds to assist workers in Hainan Province, which has been battered by the worst floods in half a century.

Wang Zhaoguo, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, instructed the trade unions to offer assistance to workers in areas affected by the disasters.

The funds, noted officials, will be used to purchase supplies and as condolence money to families of workers affected by the floods.

Additionally, the Federation of Trade Unions in Hainan Province has launched emergency plans for disaster relief in the province.

The floods, caused by the heaviest rains in Hainan since 1961, have left at least one person dead while three remain missing.

The lives of over 2.5 million people in Hainan, China's southernmost province, were affected by the floods. Rescuers have evacuated more than 300,000 people as 182 towns were submerged by floodwaters.

The downpours, which started on Sept. 30, have caused 1.13 billion yuan in economic losses.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2010)