Beijing: One person was killed and over
42,000 affected after mudslides triggered by heavy downpours
hit Central China's Hubei province.
A total of 14 counties and townships in western Hubei
Province have been hit by downpours, said the provincial flood
control and drought relief office.
The rain triggered landslides and floods in Xingshan
County in the city of Yichang, where one person was killed
when a house collapsed while another person is missing.
The disasters also toppled 294 houses, damaged 15.5 km
of roads, and caused direct economic losses of 59 million yuan
(USD 9.22 million).
More than 200 passengers stranded on damaged roads since
yesterday in the county's Gaoqiao Township have been shifted
to safe places and offered free food and accommodation,
according to the Yichang municipal flood control officials.
Xingshan County's town of Nanyang experienced a blackout
today after 31 power poles and 10 km of power lines were
damaged by storms.
Power supply resumed following repairs, Xinhua quoted
officials as saying.
Despite the damage, the rain has brought much needed
relief in some drought-stricken parts of southern China.
The National Meteorological Center said that heavy rains
will sweep the country's southern and southwestern areas over
the next three days.
Meteorologists warned people to beware of lightning
strikes and rain-triggered disasters.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 13:07