The Chinese government has disbursed 700 million yuan (103 million US dollars) in emergency aid to four provinces to help counter widespread floods, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Tuesday. 

Torrential rain has lashed large areas of the country over the past few days, with floods damaging crops and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate from their homes.

At least 33 people have been killed. 

The ministry said the relief aid would be sent to Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou provinces, and is designated to be spent on helping those who have lost their homes or family members.

The central government has already provided 3,300 tents, 30,000 quilts and 24,000 camp beds to help displaced people in the flood-affected provinces, the ministry added.

(Source: Reuters)