Heavy rain from June 8 to 10 led to severe flooding in 34 counties of the province, killing 152 people and affecting 5.1 million others. The floods have interrupted power supplies, covered large tracts of farmland and collapsed many school buildings. More than 110,000 people have been evacuated to safer areas.

Jia Zhibang, acting governor of Shaanxi, and vice-governor Zhang Wei flew to affected areas immediately to organize rescue efforts.

The provincial civil affairs and financial departments have allocated 9.5 million yuan (US$1.1 million) in relief funds and sent 11,000 quilts, 1,000 tents and 100,000 yuan-worth of food to flood-hit areas.

Total relief funds, including those provided by the central government, have reached 20 million yuan (US$2.4 million), a provincial official said.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army's air force has made airdrops of food including biscuits, salt, instant noodles and sausages.

A road damaged by floods has now been repaired, enabling relief supplies to be transported from Xi'an, the provincial capital, to Ningshaan County.

(China Daily June 17, 2002)