15 dead, 19 missing in N China storms

SHIJIAZHUANG - At least 15 people have been confirmed dead and 19 others missing in disasters linked to rainstorms that occurred over the weekend in North China's Hebei province, the provincial civil affairs bureau said Monday.

The bureau said about 11,000 tourists and 2,700 rural residents are still stranded in Laiyuan, Laishui and Yixian counties, as roads leading to rural tourist attractions remain blocked and telecommunications have been cut off.

Railway authorities in the city of Baoding on Monday arranged for three trains to help 6,000 stranded tourists leave Yesanbo, a popular resort.

The bureau said the rain brought floods and hail to 56 counties, leading to the evacuation of 159,800 people over the weekend.