At least 52 people killed as China's flood season begins

[News_Editor]

At least 52 people killed as China's flood season begins

2011-06-08 21:32:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

BEIJING, CHINA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 52 people have died, while 32 others are still missing since China's flood season began earlier in the month, officials said Wednesday.

According to Shu Qingpeng, Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters deputy chief, strong rainfall has severely affected around 4.81 million people in 12 different provinces in the central and southern regions of China, state-run media Xinhua reported.

In addition, Shu said heavy rain and flooding have destroyed at least 7,462 houses and damaged around 255,000 hectares of crops, which have been inundated by the flooding waters. In total, economic losses have already summed up to 4.92 billion yuan ($760 million).

Since last Friday, heavy rainfall in the lower and middle areas of China's Yangtze River triggered alert signals in the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou, as river waters have risen to threatening levels.

In Wangmo County, which is located in Qianxinan Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou, 122.5 millimeters of rainfall was registered during one hour. The alarming number was the area's most in 200 years, Shu noted.

Furthermore, weather forecasts indicate that rainfall is expected to continue on Thursday and continue onto the weekend. Shu called on government authorities to monitor the situation and help prevent further flooding.

On Tuesday, at least 14 people were confirmed dead and 53 others reported missing in Wangmo County alone, where 45,000 residents were forced to evacuate the area, while 3,000 others remained stranded.

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