Hundreds drown in Chinese floods
Death and misery has swept through southern China as 298 people drowned and millions were made homeless in floods triggered by torrential rain.
The International Red Cross blamed heavy rainfall over the past several weeks for the human disaster which has affected 100 million people.
The provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu and Henen have suffered the most casualties and devastation, although much of southern China has been affected.
Rains have ceaselessly lashed the country since June 21. “The destruction in Guangxi has been great with rivers swelling and washing away houses and crops,” IRC spokeswoman France Hurtubise said.
Red Cross officials expressed fears that the death toll could rise further in view of the recent flooding of provinces like Annhui and Henan.
Monetary losses were expected to exceed 800 million dollars.
Millions find themselves marooned, as does the water-logged Jaingsu province that has been flooded by the Huai river in the north and the Yangtze river in the south.
Over 400,000 people have already been evacuated from the Huai river basin in Anhui province alone. Another 68,000 people living near Hoggze lake are being evacuated in anticipation of the floods spreading further.
Red Cross estimated that close to 100 million people spread over 16 provinces have been affected in different degrees by the floods.