12 killed as heavy rain and floods in China

Heavy rain and flooding in several parts of China have killed at least 12 people and forced tens of thousands of residents to leave their homes, according to state media.

State broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday that five people were killed and 11 others were missing in Shimen County in central China’s Hunan province after intense rainfall triggered severe flooding. Rescue efforts are ongoing.

More than 19,000 people had been moved to safer places by Tuesday evening, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Xinhua said Shimen County received 339 millimetres (13 inches) of rain within 24 hours ending Monday morning. In one town, 240 millimetres (9 inches) of rain fell within just a few hours, setting a new local record.

In neighbouring Hubei province, floodwaters turned streets into rivers. Rescue teams used inflatable boats to reach stranded residents. Some homes were inundated and others collapsed.
Three people were killed and four remained missing there as of Tuesday morning, Xinhua said.

In southwestern Guizhou province, four people died and five others were missing after heavy rain and flooding, CCTV reported.

The flooding damaged houses and roads and disrupted communication services in some areas. More than 3,700 people were evacuated from one affected area, Xinhua said.

Flood-related deaths are common in China during the rainy season. Last July, severe flooding in Beijing killed dozens of people.

In a separate incident, 10 people were killed on Saturday when a pickup truck plunged off a bridge in the southern Guangxi region, Xinhua reported.