(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-23 13:45

BEIJING - Cold weather and snowstorms that struck much of central and southern China over a month since mid January have claimed 129 lives, a senior official said here on Saturday.

Aside from the death toll, four others remain missing and 1.66 million people have been relocated, said Civil Affairs Vice Minister Li Liguo.

Over 178 million mu (11.86 million hectares) of cropland have been affected in the winter havoc and 485,000 houses collapsed, Li said.

Freezing temperatures, icy rain and heavy snow also caused 151.65 billion yuan (21.11 billion US dollars) in economic losses, Li said.