BEIJING, July 11 (UPI) -- Chinese officials say the death toll from this month's flooding in the southern and central parts of the country has topped 15.
Another 16 people are missing following mudslides and flooding that affected more than 17 million people in nine provinces since July 1, the Ministry of Civil Affairs told China's official Xinhua news agency.
Farmland losses include 133,900 hectares considered destroyed, the ministry said.
Xinhua Sunday reported the massive Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in Hubei opened its floodgates for the first time this year on Saturday to release backed up water.
Summer rains have spelled misery for China this year, particularly in the south where 260 people were killed and 211 more were counted as missing in 11 provinces.
Xinhua said thunderstorms centered on Hubei were expected to continue well into next week.
