Changting 8.8 Flood

[Jianmin Li <jli@dartagnan.maths.adelaide.edu.au>]

Dear HGN Friends:

I don't know if it is appropriate to post the message here. If not,
I appologize. It is about the most serious flood in Changting 
history. Changting is one of the majoy Hakka counties, see 
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~jml/Changting. 

According to reports by Changting Red Cross, Changting, an relatively
isolated mountainous county in the west of Fujian province and one of the
poorest counties in the country, suffered a catastrophic flood on August 8,
1996.

The highest level of Tingjiang, the Hakka mother river, reached 6.68 m -- a
history high.

About 500 people were killed or missing, another 400 were injured; 65
villages, 135,000 people were surrounded by flood; 78800 people became
homeless; 45 bridges were washed away by flood; farmlands, factories,
schools, hospitals, stores, transportation and communication facilities all
suffered serious damage. The direct loss was estimated at 1.26 billion yuan
(US$150 million).

It is a real disaster and nightmare for the poor Changting people. Thousands
of flood victims are in desperate need of food, clothing and shelters.

We appeal to you to extend your warm hands to the flood victims. Any amount
will be greatly appreciated and given receipt by Changting Red Cross. Please
make check payable to

Flood Victims Aid Fund (c/o Changting Red Cross)

and send it to

Dr. Jianmin Li
Dept. of Applied Math
The University of Adelaide
Adelaide, SA 5005
AUSTRALIA

or

Changting Red Cross
Changting County, Fujian Province 366300
P.R. China

Ph: +86 597 6831609, Fax: +86 597 6831670

For more information, please visit http://bigdog.engr.arizona.edu/~jli/flood
or e-mail: jli@maths.adelaide.edu.au

Thank you and best regards. 

Jianmin Li, University of Adelaide, Australia