2010-06-07 19:31

NANNING - The death toll from landslides and flooding in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has climbed to 53 with the recovery of the bodies of all those missing, said a spokesperson with the regional flood control and drought relief office Monday.

From May 31 and June 2, Guangxi suffered the heaviest rain since the beginning of April when it entered the flood season, which will end in September.

Over the three days, torrential rain and subsequent floods and landslides hit 42 counties in nine cities, including Laibin, Yulin and Wuzhou, according to the regional flood control and drought relief office.

The ministries of civil affairs and finance Monday allocated 45 million yuan ($6.6 million) to help fund evacuations and resettlement of those affected as well as housing reconstruction.

More than 11,000 homes were reportedly destroyed, forcing 200,000 people to evacuate.

As of Saturday, rain-triggered disasters had destroyed 15 reservoirs and about 4,000 irrigation facilities, said a statement from the office.

The rain and ensuing flooding affected 182,460 hectares of crops in Guangxi, according to the regional civil affairs bureau.

Guangxi experienced fine days with thunder showers in some areas from June 3 to 6.

Local meteorologists forecast that from Monday to Thursday, the region would be buffeted by more heavy rain.