Flash flooding affects thousands in N China after ice melts

HOHHOT, April 7 (Xinhua) -- More than 4,000 people were affected by flash
flooding in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after ice on the
surrounding mountains melted with the rising temperature, local authorities said
Tuesday.

A total of 1,163 households and 4,134 residents in Arxan City have been
affected as of Tuesday morning, said Gao Chen, vice commander-in-chief of the
city's flood control and drought relief headquarters.

"The flood, the worst in the past 38 years in Arxan, has caused an economic
loss of 47 million yuan (6.8 million U.S. dollars)," he added.

Arxan, with a population of 56,000, is vulnerable to flooding every spring
when ice on the surrounding mountains melts.

The flooding began to hit the Arxan city proper last Thursday and more than
260 residents had been relocated as of Tuesday.

Gao said the flooding was also attributed to the city's lagging
infrastructure and poor underground drainage system.

The local meteorological observatory warned that the flooding would worsen
with the rising temperature.