Storms in China have killed 36 people in recent days with heavy summer rains wreaking havoc across the country, state media reported on Monday. In Zhaotong in the southwestern province of Yunnan, heavy rains, hail storms, flash floods and landslides have killed 11, injured nine and left six missing, Xinhua news agency said. In neighbouring Sichuan province, storms unleashed floods and mudslides last week killing 14, the China Daily reported.

Eight people died in Liaoning province in the northwest after flash floods from downpours burst dams and destroyed houses in rivers running through Huludao city, Xinhua reported. Heavy rains have also battered the central province of Henan, bursting two dams in Yuzhou city and killing three people, Xinhua said.

Meteorological disasters killed at least 349 people in June, with 99 missing, and caused economic losses of about US$2.53 billion, Xinhua said, quoting the China Meteorological Administration. It said the most serious disasters resulted from rainstorms which caused flooding, landslides and mud-rock flows in southern China.Chinese meteorological authorities have warned people to expect more heavy storms in coming days, the China Daily said.
(Planet Ark, 04/07/2006)