Rescue efforts face a tough challenge as the threat of flooding looms over much of South China, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu warned yesterday.

Hui urged local governments to take "resolute and effective measures" to reduce losses incurred by disasters.

He made the remarks at a national meeting on disaster-relief work.

"It is estimated that there will be more extreme weather incidents than usual in our country this year, as well as more chances of suffering large-scale flooding and severe draught," Hui was quoted as saying by the Xinhua News Agency.

The warning came as the torrential rains that have killed 71 people over the last week are expected to continue to deluge south China's Guangdong Province for the rest of this week.

"Heavy downpours in most parts of the province will not stop until Saturday," said Huang Zhong, a weatherman with the Guangdong meteorological station.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs said 71 people have died, 13 are missing and more than 10.6 million people have been affected by the rains, which have caused an estimated 3.4 billion yuan ($447 million) in economic losses.

In worst-hit Guangdong Province, governments are handing out emergency funds and living necessities to residents of the ravaged areas.

As of Monday, the provincial civil affairs department had distributed 13 million yuan in relief funds, 285 tents, 280 tons of grain, as well as drinking water and fast food in disaster-hit areas.

More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from six villages that have been flooded to divert water from the swelling Hanjiang River in southern Guangdong Province.

No casualties have been reported in the villages of Liuhuang Town, said Guo Chunshan, the town's Party chief.

"All the evacuated residents have been appropriately resettled, " said Guo, adding more people may be relocated if necessary.

The level of the Hanjiang River, the second largest in Guangdong after the Pearl River, has dropped by nine-tenths of a meter since a sluice gate was opened at 4 am on Monday. It is still 3.5 meters higher than the danger level, according to the flood control office of Fengshun County.

The waters of the Hanjiang River, which runs 400 km through east Guangdong, had been on the rise since heavy rainstorms hit the county on Friday.

By 4 am on Monday, the level had reached 26.4 meters, the highest in 50 years, threatening at least 2.5 million people along the middle and lower reaches.

"Landslides and collapses have been frequent along the river dam area," said Guo. "If we hadn't opened the sluice gate, the dam might have overflowed and the losses would have been much more serious."

The village of Huanshi was almost completely submerged after the diversion. Many buildings were submerged to the tops of their doors, and villagers were piling their belongings on bamboo rafts.

"My house has been totally submerged and my whole family is staying with relatives," villager Zhan Meizhi told Xinhua News Agency.

"I don't know when we can return home, but village officials told us the government would take care of us, and that we will receive compensation," said Zhan.

The local government organized more than 500 police and army personnel to help with the evacuation and rescuers distributed drinking water and food.

In Guangdong alone, at least 20 people were killed, 279 injured and four are missing, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The province's economic losses stand at 1.25 billion yuan, according to the ministry.

The ministry has sent rescue teams to the disaster-affected areas to assist relief work.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily 06/13/2007 page4)