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42 dead, 36 missing in south China rainstorms in 4 days

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-16 21:14
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BEIJING - Rainstorms that began pelting south China since Sunday have left at least 42 people dead and 36 missing so far, the country's disaster relief authority said Wednesday.

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At least 1.43 million people were affected by the heavy rainfalls in inundated southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Sichuan, Guangdong, Jiangxi and Fujian provinces, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFDH) said.

Minister of Water Resources and SFDH chief Chen Lei said south China has experienced a total of 14 heavy rainfalls since June 13, which caused serious floods and landslides.

The SFDH has sent six work teams to these regions to reinforce disaster relief efforts.

But the situation remains austere as rainstorms are to continue battering most regions in south China for the next three days, the National Meteorological Center said.