WORLD
Heavy rains leave ten dead, hundreds of thousands displaced in China VIDEO
Baku, June 9, AZERTAC
Ten people have died in central China as torrential rains lashed Hunan province, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands, state media reported, according to Al Arabiya.
The downpours, which began on June 1, have forced the evacuation of around 286,000 people, with more than 2,700 homes collapsed or seriously damaged, the official Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, 10 people were killed and three were missing, Hunan provincial official Li Dajian said, according to the agency.
“Heavy rains have caused the water levels of rivers and lakes to rise significantly,” the provincial government said in a statement on Thursday.
“The whole province at all levels is responding actively and making every effort to prevent (disasters).”
The rains have impacted almost all of Hunan province with some weather stations reporting “historic levels” of precipitation, Xinhua said.
It cited local authorities as saying 1.79 million people have been “affected”, without providing details.
Authorities have sent tents, foldable beds, food and clothing to the stricken areas, Xinhua added.