Emergency loans provided for southwest China flood control

The China Development Bank (CDB) said Thursday it has allocated 730 million yuan (118 million U.S. dollars) in emergency loans for flood control in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The downpours have been battering most parts of Sichuan since Monday evening, leaving nine deaths and 62 others missing. The bank said it offered 100 million yuan on July 5 to the hard-hit city of Suining, as well as 50 million yuan on July 10 to the city of Dujiangyan, where a landslide killed 18 people and left another 86 missing. Some 550 million yuan was allocated to other flood-stricken areas including the city of Deyang, where 231 people remained trapped by floodwaters. The funds will largely be used to resettle flood victims, aid in the allocation of relief supplies and maintain damaged public facilities and infrastructure, the bank said.