Prolonged storms causing floods and landslides continue to hammer southwest China's Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality, destroying roads, homes and crops and leaving scores of people dead or missing.

Casualty counts are still preliminary, but China Central Television, quoting the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, reported that as of 8:00 AM on Tuesday, 56 people were dead, 55 missing and 6.5 million affected in Sichuan Province. In neighboring Chongqing Municipality, 33 were reported dead, 33 missing and 1.6 million affected.

At 9:00 AM Tuesday, Xinhua News Agency reported 105 dead in Sichuan and Chongqing, with 83 missing.

The Huaxi Daily, a Sichuan newspaper, reports 67 dead in the province and 55 missing. It does not give figures for Chongqing.

At 4:00 PM Tuesday, an official with the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters who declined to give his name refused to confirm casualty figures, but stated that the 89 dead and 88 missing reported by CCTV "could be used."

Meanwhile, the central government has allocated 40 million yuan (US$4.8 million) in disaster relief for the devastated region.

The State Council, under the direction of Premier Wen Jiabao, dispatched a task force to oversee rescue and relief efforts. The team has arrived in the stricken area.

The Red Cross Society of China has also allocated relief goods, including tents and quilts.

(CRI, CCTV, China.org.cn September 7, 2004)