Heavy rains kill 31 in China

Beijing: At least 31 people were killed and more than 1.42 million others affected due to heavy rains and hailstorms in the last one month in China’s southwest Guizhou province, authorities said today.

Torrential rain brought floods and landslides to Guizhou from May 14, affecting more than 1.42 million people and forcing 83,000 of them to relocate, according to the provincial civil affairs department.

More than 1,100 houses were destroyed and 56,600 hectares of farmland damaged, causing over 2.7 billion yuan (USD 435 million) of direct economic losses, the department said.

Local authorities have sent 2,050 tents and 11,000 quilts, among other relief materials to the affected regions.

The province is said to be bracing for more heavy rains in the next two days.

PTI