Society

Rain-triggered landslides kill at least 35 in China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-19 14:15

BEIJING - Rain-triggered landslides in eastern and southern China have killed at least 35 people as of Saturday morning, according to local officials.

The death toll in the eastern province of Fujian rose to 25 Saturday morning from midnight's 19 after six people were found dead after a landslide in Gaosha Town, Shaxian County.

Related readings:  Heavy rains cause landslides, delays  Officials warn of new floods, landslides in S China  Landslides, flooding kill 53 in S China  Landslides force evacuation

Landslides have also left 15 missing in Fujian.

In neighboring Zhejiang Province, nine people died Friday in two landslides.

In southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a lumberjack was killed and six others are missing after a landslide hit a work shed in a village in Rongshui County early Friday.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs said that by 4 p.m. Friday, the heavy rains that began pounding south China Sunday have left 69 dead, 44 missing and forced the evacuation of 493,000 people in Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces as well as in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The rainstorms have caused economic losses of 6.5 billion yuan (952 million U.S. dollars), the ministry said.

The torrential downpours have also triggered flash floods, caused rivers to swell, inundated crops, and disrupted traffic and telecommunications.