Rainstorms kill 12, affect millions in southern China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-14 11:18

Losses in Anhui were estimated at nearly 1 billion yuan as the rain affected more than 930,000 people and more than 70,000 hectares of crops.

The provincial department of civil affairs started to send tents to the most seriously affected counties of Xiuning and Shexian.

In eastern Jiangxi Province, a rainstorm-triggered landslide killed a woman in Shangyou County. Rainstorms hit 61 counties in the province, with Chongyi County Hydrological Station recording the largest 24-hour rainfall total of 191 mm.

A storm in the southern city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, killed six on Friday, as bad weather continued to rage in the region. Four died after their houses collapsed in the morning while a couple selling fruit were electrocuted, officials said.

The rainstorm cut traffic, delayed airlines and caused landslides in the city neighboring Hong Kong.

The Guangdong Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded th fourth-grade emergency response to third-grade as the rainstorm hit the major rivers in the province.

At 6 p.m. on Friday, the water level of Beijiang River at Yingde station was 28.46 meters, 2.46 meters more than the alert level. The water level of Wujiang River at Lechang station was 90.77 meters, 3.57 meters more than the alert level. The water level of Lianjiang River at Lianxian station was 93.81 meters, 2.81 meters higher than the alert level.

More than 533 hectares of crops were inundated and 33 houses collapsed in Lechang City. The No. 247, No. 248 provincial highways were blocked by landslides. About 30 reservoirs and 28 hydropower stations were damaged. More than 38,000 people were relocated in the city, according to the Lechang city government.

The power authority central Hubei Province announced on Friday an alert situation for local power grid and the Huanglongtan Hydropower Plant against floods. About 4,000 electricians were on stand-by to fix power facilities if affected by the rainstorms.

Storms were expected to hit quake-battered Sichuan Province on Friday night and Saturday morning, according to the provincial meteorological bureau.

Relevant departments were warned of mud-and-rock flows and landslides that could be triggered by strong rains.

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