Death toll rises to 31 in Hebei after rainstorms

SHIJIAZHUANG - The death tool climbed to 31 after rainstorms hit North China's Hebei province over the weekend, the provincial authorities said Wednesday.

As of 8 am Wednesday, 20 people were still missing after the rainstorms, which brought floods and hail to 58 counties in Hebei, according to the provincial civil affairs bureau.

A total of 33,586 houses were toppled, and 161,700 hectares of cropland suffered damage. The direct economic losses have reached over 10 billion yuan ($1.56 billion).

Relief goods, including 4,000 tents, 20,000 coats and 20,000 quilts allocated by the affected areas by the Ministry of Civil Affairs were expected to be sent to the disaster-hit region Wednesday evening.

Rainstorms have ravaged many parts of China recently, including Beijing where the heaviest rain in 60 years on Saturday caused 37 deaths.

Torrential rain has swept through 17 provincial areas since last Friday, leaving 95 dead and another 45 missing, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Monday.