Forty-seven people have died in massive landslides and flooding in
several cities and counties of central-south China's Hunan
province.
The landslides and flooding were caused by exceedingly heavy
rainfalls, unseen for years in this region, which affected cities
like Chenzhou, Hengyang, Yongzhou and Zhuzhou with populations
totaling 3.5 million, local sources said.
Sources show the rainstorms will bring a loss of 190 million yuan
(US$23 million).
The Hunan provincial and local governments had formed emergency
teams and sent officials to the affected areas for rescue and
relief efforts.
(Xinhua News
Agency August 9, 2002)