Another road connecting Foping with a neighboring county is also under reconstruction and is expected to be finished on Wednesday.

"With the common efforts of armed police and construction workers, the repair work can be completed ahead of schedule," said Zhang Rongzhu who takes charge of repairing the roads.

Although weathermen forecast more showers to come, Zhang said that the construction work would not be delayed.

There are three roads leading into the county including the No.108 National Highway and a highway to Jinshui Town in neighboring Yangxian County.

Hu Yue, a local official, said that although the repaired road is bumpy, vehicles can transport disaster relief materials, especially urgently needed equipment like generators and diesel engines.

It is estimated that the flooding caused by torrential rains from June 8 to 10 has inflicted 2.1 billion yuan of direct losses (US$253 million) on the province.

The severely afflicted areas include Hanzhong, Ankang and Shangluo cities.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2002)