Nearly 100 killed in China rains

Torrential rains that have ravaged China’s 17 provinces since July 20, have killed at least 95 people. Another 45 are still missing, the government said Monday.

The ministry of civil affairs said natural disasters caused by the downpours have affected over six million people in more than 260 counties. About 567,000 people have been evacuated, Xinhua reported.

The ministry said 37 people died in Beijing, 17 died and 21 were missing in Hebei, eight died and two were missing in Sichuan, six died and four were missing in Yunnan, five died in Chongqing, four died and one was missing in Shanxi, three died in Inner Mongolia and three died and 14 were missing in Shaanxi.

Rainstorms destroyed 29,000 houses and partially damaged another 55,000.

The national disaster relief and civil affairs department has initiated an emergency response and sent teams to worst-affected Beijing and Hebei.

Authorities have allocated five million yuan (about $783,000) in relief funds, 700 tents and 3,000 quilts to the flood-hit regions.