China flood toll reaches 1,072

BEIJING - The toll in floods triggered by torrential rains in China this year has reached 1,072, while 619 people are still missing.

The floods have affected over 140 million people in 28 provinces and caused economic losses estimated at almost 210 billion yuan, said Shu Qingpeng, deputy director of the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief.

Floods also destroyed over 1.1 million homes and damaged 9.72 million hectares of farmland, Xinhua reported.

Rivers like the Yangtze, the Yellow and the Songhua were all swollen to danger levels after heavy rains. Authorities have evacuated 10.42 million people this year from areas at risk of flooding, he said.

President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Hui Liangyu were concerned about the relief and rescue work, he said, adding that the central government has allocated more than 2.1 billion yuan for the purpose.