China Flooding Kills 41, 110K Forced to Evacuate

A new round of flooding across central China has killed 41 people, bringing the total killed in seasonal flooding this year to at least 95, state media reported today. Torrential rains triggered floods and landslides that toppled homes and destroyed river embankments, killing 22 people and leaving five others missing, Xinhua News Agency said. A total of 111,000 people were relocated to safer places.

In the now submerged Tongcheng county, more than 11.8 inches of rainfall fell within four hours, a record volume, while flood waters in low-lying areas were more than 6 feet deep. Electricity and telephone services had been cut off by the floods. Another 26,000 were evacuated and 1,200 stranded in southeast China. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Sarika may become the first to land in China this year, with landfall predicted tomorrow. (More China stories.)