One missing after N China flood, 4,000 relocated

EWENKI, Inner Mongolia - One person is missing and about 4,000 people have been forced to relocate after a flood hit North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, local authorities said Thursday.

As of 11 am, the flood that occurred in the Ewenki autonomous banner (Bayantuohai town) has also left more than 2,000 livestock missing.

The flood was caused by melting snow that led to rising water levels, which went above the warning line of a local reservoir.

On Monday, the reservoir began to release water into downstream Yimin River, which overflowed to nearby towns or villages.

Witnesses said a residential area in the town of Yimin was flooded and houses had collapsed.

The local government has sent more than 1,500 rescuers and 560 vehicles for relief work.