11 killed in heavy rains in China

Beijing: Eleven people were killed and an equal number remained missing after heavy rains in the southwestern China.

Seven people were killed and three remained missing after severe downpours battered Linshui County in the southwestern Sichuan Province yesterday, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Four people are dead and one remains missing in Shaanxi.

Rains have affected 658,000 people in 65 counties in 10 cities in the province, local government said.
Rainstorms have also damaged about 15,000 housing units and affected 37,800 hectares of farmland in the province, with direct economic losses of 600 million yuan (USD 97.8 million), it said.

Local governments have relocated about 162,000 residents to safer regions to avoid geological risks, Xinhua reported.

Meanwhile, China's marine forecast station issued a yellow alert as typhoon Kalmaegi, packing winds of up to 126 km per hour, is expected to enter the South China Sea tomorrow.

Kalmaegi is now moving toward the northern Philippines from the country's east coast.
It is forecast to land at the northern Philippines island of Luzon around this evening and will continue to approach the southern coast of China tomorrow morning.

The typhoon could create waves up to seven meters high in the eastern part of the South China Sea and the Bashi Channel.

The station warned ships operating in the waters and urged local governments and personnel to take measures against waves.