6 killed, 4 missing after Central China rainstorm

WUHAN -- Six people are dead and four others missing after a rainstorm hit Central China's Hubei province on Thursday.

As of Friday, 19,000 people have been relocated to safe places, according to the provincial civil affairs department. A total of 656 homes collapsed and 110,860 hectares of crops were damaged by the storm. Direct economic losses have reached 591 million yuan ($88.8 million), according to the department.

After cracks were found on the body of a newly-built residential building in Dongbao district in the city of Jingmen, the 316 residents of the building were evacuated to a primary school on Thursday night.

Disaster relief efforts are under way. Tents, folding beds, quilts and clothes have been sent to the affected areas.