Torrential rains leave 36 dead, 21 missing in central China

[News_Editor]

Torrential rains leave 36 dead, 21 missing in central China

2011-06-13 00:49:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHANGSHA, CHINA (BNO NEWS) --At least 36 people have been killed and 21 others are missing after torrential rains hit central China's Hunan Province, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

According to a spokesman with the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, the downpours, which started to pound 11 cities and prefectures in Hunan Thursday, have affected 3.61 million people.

The spokesman added that parts of Hunan recorded levels of precipitation not seen in the region for 300 years.

The heavy rains and floods toppled 17,300 rural houses and forced the evacuation of 149,000 people across the province, with the direct economic losses estimated at 2.22 billion yuan (about 340 million U.S. dollars).

More rain is expected this week.

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