$22m allocated to rain-soaked SW areas

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Finance on Friday allocated 140 million yuan ($22 million) in relief funds to Southwestern Sichuan province and Chongqing Municipality for rain-triggered flooding.

According to a statement from the ministry, the money will be used for evacuations and relocations, subsistence allowances, reconstruction of damaged houses and subsidies and compensation provided to the families of the deceased.

Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality will receive 100 million yuan and 40 million yuan, respectively, said the statement.

Rainstorms have hit Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality since late last month, leaving dozens of residents dead and forcing over 320,000 others to be relocated, according to previous reports.