Torrential rains suspend train operations in China

Torrential rains in central China's Hunan Province have disrupted train operations, a railway company said Monday.

Since midnight on Sunday, when rain battered the province, more than 100 trains have been forced to stop, delay or detour along five railway lines, including one connecting Shanghai and Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, said a manager with Guangzhou Railway Group.

Up to 27 railway sections along the five lines were reported to have been affected by rain-triggered landslides or flooded rail beds, said the manager.

An expressway bridge under construction collapsed because of the rain around 10 a.m. Monday morning in Yiyang City, Hunan, creating a barrier lake near a national-level road. The flooding has disrupted traffic along the road.

Also in Yiyang City, around 3 tonnes of gasoline and diesel oil leaked out of a gas station at 3 a.m. Monday, forcing nearby residents to temporarily relocate, according to the city publicity department. The contaminated floodwater flowed into a nearby river, and authorities are monitoring the water quality and are prepared for an emergency response plan for drinking water contamination.

More torrential rain is expected Monday in the province, according to meteorological authorities in Hunan. It also warned of landslides, floods and other geological disasters.
Source:XINHUA