By IANS,
Beijing : Icy weather and melting snow have forced the evacuation of 104,900 people from their homes in southwest China’s Guizhou province since New Year’s Day, a ministry statement said Wednesday.
The freezing weather has disrupted the lives of over 4.64 million people in the province, where accumulated ice had caused more than 8,000 homes to collapse, Xinhua reported citing a statement by the ministry of civil affairs.
Economic losses were estimated at 1.28 billion yuan ($194 million).
The ministry has sent 1,000 tents to Guizhou to house the evacuated people.
It has also prepared 100,000 cotton-padded coats and 110,000 quilts for the affected people in Sichuan, Guizhou and Hunan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Chongqing municipality, which have been hit by the harsh weather.
The Guizhou provincial government has set up 160 temporary aid centres to distribute flood relief supplies including clothes, quilts, food and water to the affected residents.