Society

At least 27 die as rain, flood wreck S China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-09 22:50

BEIJING - At least 27 people are dead, six others missing and tens of thousands evacuated after more rain-triggered landslides have caused havoc in south China, delaying flights and severing roads and railway lines in south China.

Inland inundation caused by heavy rain paralyzes traffic in Chongqing on July 9, 2010. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

Ten people had died, two were missing and 109,000 relocated in the hardest-hit southwestern Chongqing Municipality by 6 pm Friday, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a statement.

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The torrential rains had damaged 88,100 hectares of crops, toppled 9,000 houses, damaged 20,000 houses and caused a direct economic loss of 1.09 billion yuan ($160.9 million).

The rains also delayed 92 flights at Chongqing airport Friday morning.

The heaviest rain this summer started to batter the municipality from Thursday night, with Huatian Township in Youyang County recording the largest rainfall of 241.6 mm. Water levels in most rivers in Chongqing have risen above warning levels.

The floods also have left Fenshui and Sanzheng townships in Wanzhou District of Chongqing in flood waters up to 1.2 meters deep.

"One of my relatives almost drowned after water gushed into the ground-floor apartment through the windows. The family was dragged out by people using a rope," said Zeng Jun, a resident at Fenshui.

In central Hunan Province, eight people were dead, one missing, 107,000 relocated and 2.06 million affected, the ministry said.

The rain had toppled 5,270 houses and inflicted direct economic losses of one billion yuan ($147 million) in Hunan.

In Hunan's neighboring province of Hubei seven people were dead and three missing due to the rain-triggered accidents, as well as economic losses of 1.09 billion yuan.

A woman and her daughter were crushed to death in their sleep after their house collapsed in heavy rain in Qingtian County, Lishui City of east China's Zhejiang Province, said the municipal fire fighters.

A rain-triggered landslide disrupted the Sichuan-Guizhou Railway at Tongzi County in southwest China's Guizhou Province at around 8 a.m. Friday, said Wang Zhong, head of Tongzi County government.

The landslide carrying 2,000 cubic meters of debris occurred at Dahe Town. Over 300 workers with seven excavators were battling to repair the railway.

The railway was expected to be fixed by 8 am Saturday, instead of the earlier estimated time of 5 pm Friday, as further landslides buried the line.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs has launched a level IV emergency response after the new floods hit southern China from Thursday. Under a level IV emergency response, monitoring of emergencies will be stepped up and reported to the State Council.

Previously, in June, torrential rains had resulted in 260 deaths and left 211 missing in 11 southern provinces, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.