39 killed, 13 missing in China`s rainstorms

Beijing: At least 39 people were killed and 13 others missing after torrential rains triggered floods and landslides in China, the government said on Monday. The Ministry of Civil Affairs said 18 people were dead and four missing in northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, while nine others lost their lives and another four remain missing in eastern Anhui Province.

One person died in central Hubei Province after heavy rains led to flooding and landslides. The natural disaster also led to nine deaths and five missing cases in southwestern Sichuan Province, as well as two deaths in southwestern Chongqing municipality, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. About 2.44 million people in 34 counties in Sichuan have been affected by the extreme weather conditions and forced the relocation of some 1.20 lakh people. The rainstorms also destroyed more than 5,600 houses and damaged another 10,000, the ministry added. In neighbouring Chongqing Municipality, about 8.76 lakh people have been affected and over 1.04 lakh others were evacuated amid rain-triggered disasters. PTI