Typhoon Talim casualty rises to 39 in Anhui
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-09-03 20:46
The death toll in the disaster brought about by typhoon Talim has risen to 39 in Anhui Province, while nine others are still missing, local government said Saturday evening.
A woman struggles with her umbrella in fierce wind and heavy rain during a typhoon in Taipei September 1, 2005. Typhoon Talim swept across Taiwan on Thursday after killing at least one person and injuring 24 as it toppled billboards, broke windows and knocked motorcyclists off their bikes. [Reuters] |
Most parts of the province have been suffering torrential rains, floods and landslides caused by Talim over the past three days, said the Anhui Provincial Headquarters of Flood Control and Drought Relief.
Preliminary investigation shows that a total of 1.79 million people in in 12 counties of the Dabie Mountain area have been most severely affected, with infrastructures, croplands and houses destroyed.
The direct economic loss was estimated at 700 million yuan (86.3 million US dollars).
The provincial government has mobilized more than 1 million people for the rescue work and so far 100,000 civilians have been relocated to safe place.
The provincial headquarters of flood control and drought relief described the heavy rains brought by Talim as "rare in history," saying the rainfall in the upper reaches of the Xianghongdian Reservoir located in the Dabie Mountain area has exceeded 400 millimeters in 24 hours between Sept. 2 and 3, the highest in history.
Currently, the water level in 47 out of the total 112 medium-sized and large reservoirs in the province is above the danger line.
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