Floods in China kill 132 and force 860,00 to flee

MAJOR rivers burst their banks in southern China, triggering massive floods that have killed 132 people and forced 860,000 to flee their homes, the government said yesterday.

With dozens missing and more storms forecast, the death toll was expected to rise.

More than 10 million people have been affected since torrential rains began on June 13, including those who have been injured, stranded or have suffered property losses, the Ministry of Water Resources said in a news release.

While the death toll was up from 90 on Saturday, the number of evacuees was lower than the previous day’s figure of 1.4 million. Another 86 people are still missing.

China sustains major flooding annually along the mighty Yangtze and other major rivers, but this year’s floods have been especially heavy, spreading across nine provinces and regions in the south and along the eastern coast.

Thousands of houses have been destroyed and economic losses have topped 14 billion yuan, the ministry said.

More thunderstorms were forecast from yesterday afternoon into today, according to the official meteorological bureau.

State broadcaster CCTV aired images of rescues performed by boat, truck and helicopter.