China's southern areas wrecked by January snow havoc are facing a heavy task of rebuilding, though a huge amount of relief fund has been allocated, a top official said on Sunday.

Li Liguo, vice minister of civil affairs made the remarks at a press conference on the sideline of the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament.

The winter storms that reaped havoc on the country's central, south and southwest over a month since mid-January have claimed 129 lives, devastated 485,000 houses and damaged about 25 million mu in crops (about 1.67 million hectare), leading to a direct economic loss of 151.6 billion yuan (about 20.8 billion U.S. dollars).

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2008)