China's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Sunday deadly mudslides in northwest China's Gansu Province affected more than 200 hectares of farmland and swept away over 10,000 head of livestock.

The ministry has sent 80 tonnes of disinfectant, 2,000 sets of sanitizing equipment and 20,000 sets of protective gear to Zhouqu in south Gansu where heavy downpours triggered mudslides and mud-rock flows, leaving at least 127 people dead and nearly 1,300 missing.

The MOA said the disaster severely damaged not only houses but also agricultural infrastructures.

The ministry has sent experts to the affected area to assist the work to prevent epidemics caused by dead animals while working out plans on how to restore the area's agricultural production.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2010)