98,700 affected by NW China extreme weather

URUMQI - Torrential rain, hail and floods have affected about 98,717 residents in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region since Tuesday, local authorities said on Sunday.

Strong rainfall began on Tuesday and has continued into Sunday morning,affecting Xinjiang's northern and western areas of Altay, Aksu and Tacheng, the region's civil affairs department said in a statement.

The rainstorm has damaged over 12,300 hectares of crops and killed 2,340 heads of livestock, while 303 houses have been toppled or damaged, forcing the evacuation of 939 people.

Direct economic losses are estimated to have reached 104 million yuan(about 17 million U.S.dollars), the department said.

The rainstorm has also triggered torrential floods, destroying parts of channels, sluices and infrastructure as well as electric wells, bridges and roads, it added.