The death toll from continuous rains in southwest China's Guizhou Province has increased to 12, with 12 still missing, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday. From 8 p.m. Sunday to 8 a.m.
Tuesday, downpours battered most cities and counties in Guizhou with regional torrential rainstorms leading to surging river waters and blocked traffic, according to the Civil Affairs Department of Guizhou.
So far, the storms have caused the collapse of more than 400 rooms and affected around 10,000 hectares of farmland. The direct economic loss in Guizhou was estimated at CNY 640 million (USD 104 million).
Local governments have relocated more than 35,000 people to safe places. Rain is expected to continuously hit the eastern and southern regions of Guizhou through Wednesday, said the provincial geological station.
Meanwhile, China's national flood prevention headquarters said on Tuesday that 50.27 million people across the country have been affected by floods this year, with 311 people killed and 88 missing.