160,000 affected by Xinjiang floods

Hailstorms and torrential rain-triggered floods have left about 160,000 people affected in the southern part of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, local authorities said on Friday.

As of Thursday afternoon, the floods have affected more than 101,000 people in Aksu Prefecture and led to nearly 3,000 of them being relocated. About 12,000 hectares of croplands have been damaged, 1,638 houses toppled and 6,197 houses damaged by the floods, according to the regional civil affairs department.

Hailstorms have stricken 19 towns in Kashi Prefecture, leaving 60,000 people affected in the area, said the prefecture's flood control and drought relief headquarters.

The hail has also injured 84 people and killed 89 heads of livestock and 11,200 domestic birds in the prefecture.

Relief supplies such as quilts, tents as well as food have been sent to the areas. Relocation of the affected people is under way.