China' s Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced Sunday that it had allocated 500 million yuan (US$73 million) in emergency aid to fund rescue efforts following devastating mudslides in northwest China.

The money will support the relocation and relief efforts for landslide victims, hygiene and disease control, reconstruction of local infrastructure, rebuilding of houses and the clearing of the barrier lake which was formed by the massive mudslide, MOF officials said.

Heavy downpours triggered mudslides and mud-rock flows in Zhouqu early Sunday morning. The disaster has left at least 127 people dead and some 2,000 missing as of 4:00 PM Sunday, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2010)