China storms kill dozens, cause damage

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BEIJING, July 9 (UPI) -- Rainstorms in recent weeks in China have killed or left missing dozens of people, triggered extensive flooding and caused widespread damage, authorities said.

At least eight regions in eastern, central, south and northwest provinces in the country have been pounded by have rains since June 28, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The ministry said as of Monday at least 65 people had been reported killed and another 30 people missing in these regions.

The rains also have triggered floods and landslides, affecting about 17.5 million people in Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces, the report said. At least 1.17 million people had been evacuated from these regions.

The ministry said about 66,000 homes had been destroyed and nearly 2.5 million acres of farmland were hit.

Relief efforts including providing tents and quilts were under way in these areas, the report said.

Separately, the ministry said natural disasters in the country have accounted for the deaths of 465 people through the first half of this year.