Beijing, June 07: The flash floods and landslides caused by torrential rains in northwest China's desert province of Xinjiang have claimed at least 26 lives, according to the latest official reports today. Besides, three persons were missing and the probability of their survival is relatively low, local government officials said.
The floods triggered by rains that fell overnight on Thursday swept through three villages and towns in Gongliu and Nilka counties in Ili River Valley, destroying more than 1,400 houses and barns and more than 1,333 hectares of farmland. Over 1,000 head of cattle were also killed in the flooding, the report said. Local government officials have rushed to the scene for rescue operations, and the local residents affected, mainly herdsmen and farmers, have been evacuated.
Meanwhile, parts of southern China's Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Yunnan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region will be hit by heavy rains, according to the latest forecast from the Central Meteorological Station. According to the forecast, parts of the above-mentioned regions will experience heavy rains, brief thunderstorms, strong winds or hailstorms.
The storms could bring landslides and mud-rock flows to parts of Jiangxi, Yunnan and Guangdong provinces, the report warned. Bureau Report