Five people were confirmed dead, nine others missing and three badly injured in a series of landslides and mountain torrents caused by rains that have struck the south China province of Guangdong over the past few days.
Yunan County, where the deaths occurred, has received its heaviest rainfall in history. The rain has caused blackouts, and transportation and telecommunications failures in several townships.
Sources at the provincial disaster relief department said that in the three worst-hit counties, namely Meixian, Dapu and Pingyuan, the rain has caused damage directly valued at some five million yuan.
The bad weather will continue for the next two days, with the middle and southern parts of the province expected to be particularly badly hit, according to the provincial meteorological bureau.
(China Daily 06/08/2001)
