(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-13 16:12

A woman lights a fire beside an altar before praying at a village near Pingshi, 320 km (199 miles) north of China's southern city of Guangzhou in Guangdong province, two days before the Lunar New Year of the Rat February 5, 2008. [Agencies]

Disasters caused by prolonged low temperatures, icy rains and heavy snows in the southern part of China in the past month killed a total of 107 people and left 8 others missing by Tuesday, said Li Xueju, minister of civil affairs, Wednesday.

Direct economic losses were estimated at 111.1 billion yuan (US$15.3 billion), he said.