Heavy Rains, Landslides in China Kill 70

Massive landslides and flooding have killed 70 people in south-central China’s Hunan province and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, the official New China News Agency reported.

The landslides and flooding caused by heavy rainfall affected the cities of Chenzhou, Hengyang, Yongzhou and Zhuzhou, which have a combined population of 3.5 million, the agency said.

Property losses were estimated to be more than $240 million. Officials in the region could not be reached immediately for comment.

Provincial and municipal governments have formed emergency rescue and relief teams and sent officials to the affected areas.

The toll could rise because mining is a key industry in part of the hard-hit area and many people were working underground at the time of the deluge, it said.

Seasonal floods have killed almost 900 people nationwide since May.

In South Korea, meanwhile, authorities said Friday that torrential rains this week left nine people dead and six missing.

Most of the victims were swept away by flash floods or landslides, said the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs.

Some southern provinces in the country also faced the prospect of further deluges, government meteorologists said.