Hope Fades for Finding 300 Missing in China Floods

Rescuers have all but given up hope of finding about 300 people missing in floods in western China, an official said Tuesday, suggesting that the death toll could top 500.

Storms that raged June 8-10 ravaged areas across the west of China, triggering flooding and mudslides that destroyed thousands of houses and wrecked bridges and roads. Officials have reported 253 deaths.

In Shaanxi province, where about 300 people have been reported missing, efforts are “shifting from rescue to figuring out an accurate death toll,” said Li Wei, a spokesman for the provincial government.

Officials have said 152 people are confirmed dead in Shaanxi. Authorities aren’t declaring the missing people dead yet “because we don’t want to give up hope,” Li said by telephone from the provincial capital, Xian.

More heavy rains are predicted for Shaanxi through the weekend, the official China Daily newspaper said.