45 people killed in storms in China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-08 19:43

HEFEI - At least 45 people have been killed by storms in east and central China since last Wednesday, officials said Monday.

The disaster relief office in eastern Anhui Province said 21 people were killed by falling trees, collapsed roofs or shipwreck. Four were missing and 215 others were injured.

The civil affair department in central Henan Province reported four more deaths, bringing the provincial death toll to 24.

In Anhui, 4.82 million residents in 63 counties and districts have been affected while northern parts of the province were the worst hit, the disaster office said.

In Mengcheng County, Anhui, wind speeds reached 27 meters per second Friday. Electricity was cut in many towns and villages, but has since been restored in most places.

The storms also destroyed 15,700 houses and damaged 90,400 others, which led to the relocation of about 7,000 people to the homes of relatives or friends. Crops on 205,400 hectares of farmland were damaged, the Anhui disaster relief office said.

The Anhui provincial civil affairs department has sent 12 million yuan for disaster relief, while the Henan provincial government has allocated 3 million yuan for disaster relief.

Shanxi, Shandong and Jiangsu were also hit by storms, but there have been no reports of casualties.